Agnieszka Nowak
Ms. Nowak (42 years old), a child care worker, lives with her two children (10 and 12 years old) in a small apartment.
She has been separated from her husband for a year. In recent months, she has experienced verbal and physical assaults from him. She is scared and does not know how to protect herself and her children.
Her limited German language skills make communication and understanding the legal situation more difficult.
Recognizing Legal Issues
Ms. Nowak wants to file for domestic violence protection at the family court. However, she is afraid of contacting her ex-partner and is uncertain how to properly submit the application due to her limited German skills.
Language
Mrs. Nowak faces several challenges: She cannot understand the information on the family court's website due to her limited German knowledge. She does not know where to file for protection, which forms are needed, and what steps to expect in the process. The complex forms require legal expertise, and the language barrier makes understanding them difficult.
Additionally, there are no interpreters at the legal application office of the local district court, which complicates communication with the staff and can lead to misunderstandings.
Private Support
Mrs. Nowak is fortunate to have a helpful neighbor from Poland who speaks German very well. She is also a family law attorney. She offers to assist Ms. Nowak as an interpreter and legal counsel during the application process and at the court hearing. With this support, Ms. Nowak feels significantly more secure and comfortable.
Legal Application Offices
Mrs. Nowak's neighbor accompanies her to the legal application office and helps her with the submission. She translates the questions and answers from the staff for Ms. Nowak, allowing her to present her situation clearly and explicitly.
Court Proceeding
The neighbor accompanies Ms. Nowak to court and represents her as a lawyer. She simultaneously translates the proceedings into Polish, allowing Ms. Nowak to understand everything and actively participate in the hearing.
Outcome of Proceeding
The judge issues a court order against Ms. Nowak's former partner, prohibiting him from approaching Ms. Nowak and her children or contacting them.
The problem is resolved for now
For now, the problem seems resolved, as Ms. Nowak has received court protection against her former partner with the help of her neighbor.
However, concerns remain that her ex-partner may try to circumvent the order.
