Descriptive Transcript of Video: What Happens at a Final Hearing for Relief from Abuse and After the Hearing

(Visual: A thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen.)

Female Narrator: Safety Note: Computer security.

(Visual: From beneath the line, a red shield with a white exclamation point on it appears and sits above it. Beneath the line, text:)

Female Narrator: Safety note: Computer security.

(Visual: A grey, rectangular computer window with a purple bar at the top appears. The red shield moves to the top left side of the window and sits in front of it. Inside the computer window, the web address vtlawhelp.org in a search bar. A cell phone moves into the forefront from behind the computer window, also with the web address vtlawhelp.org in a search bar on its face.)

Female Narrator: Can your abuser access the computer or mobile device you’re using right now?

(Visual: The search bar on the computer screen folds into a blue recycling bin. The words "Clear Browsing History" appear above it in purple, as though typed. A purple mouse arrow pointer flies in from the right, with motion trails, clicks on the recycling bin and moves to rest in the bottom left of the computer screen.)

Female Narrator: Consider clearing your browsing history after you’re done or using a device they can’t access.

(Visual: The images slide out to the left. The thin, purple line stretches horizontally across the screen. A person in a red shirt rises from beneath it, with a hand on their hip.)

Female Narrator: This video will help you get ready for a final hearing for a Relief from Abuse.

(Visual: The person shifts slightly to the left. A Roman-style courthouse, white, with six columns, and a peaked roof, pops up on their right. The words "Relief from Abuse (RFA) Order" appear below the purple line.)

Female Narrator:--or RFA, order--

(Visual: A brown stamp flies in from the right and hovers above the courthouse.)

Female Narrator:--and you’ll learn what happens when an RFA order is granted.

(Visual: The stamp presses down on the courthouse and leaves a print of a white checkmark inside a purple circle over the right side of the roof. The stamp disappears and the images move to the left so that the courthouse is centered, and the person is on the far left.)

Female Narrator: At the final hearing,

the court will hear from both you, the Plaintiff--

(Visual: The word "Plaintiff" appears in purple text beneath the person.)

Female Narrator:--and your abuser, the Defendant.

(Visual: A person in an orange T-shirt appears to the right of the courthouse with their arms folded. The word "Defendant" appears in purple text beneath them. A gavel materializes in front of the courthouse and strikes its soundboard twice.)

Female Narrator: The court will then decide whether to give you a final Relief from Abuse order.

(Visual: A short-haired person in a teal top pops up to the left, behind the plaintiff.)

Female Narrator: You can bring a support person with you to court, such as a friend, family member, or an advocate from a domestic violence agency.

(Visual: The images slide off to the left and an open notebook, similar to a legal pad, appears. It features three sets of horizontal purple lines to represent two lines of text with blank checkmark boxes to the right of each. A purple pen comes out from behind it and clicks itself.)

Female Narrator: Before the hearing, practice answering questions the judge may ask you, like:

(Visual: The pad moves to the right and a thin, purple line enters from the right and stops in the right-hand side. A mirror pops up from it that reflects the person in the red shirt. They hold a pad of paper. As each point is introduced, it appears verbatim as text in the place of the purple lines that represent text on the notepad. The pen leaves a red checkmark in the box beside each point as it's read.)

Female Narrator: What is your relationship to the Defendant?
What is the most recent incident that happened?
What is the most serious incident that happened?

(Visual: The images slide off to the left. The purple line reappears quickly and stretches horizontally across the screen from the right. The person in the red shirt pops up on the left, followed by the courthouse on the right.)

Female Narrator: Arrive at court on time and wait for the court officer to call your name.

(Visual: A clock set to approximately 12:42 appears above the person and courthouse in the center. The hands on the clock spin around quickly.)

Female Narrator: You may have to wait a while for your hearing, so it’s a good idea to clear your schedule for half the day.

(Visual: The clock fades into the background, and the images shift left so the courthouse is centered. The person in the orange T-shirt pops up to its right, with a second person who wears a blue sweater over a white, collared shirt.)

Female Narrator: When you arrive at court, if the Defendant has a lawyer and you don’t, you may ask the court to “continue”, or reschedule, the hearing --

(Visual: Text centered beneath the courthouse reads, "'Continue-equals-Reschedule".)

Female Narrator:--so you also have the chance to get a lawyer.

(Visual: The courthouse sinks beneath the purple line as a purple smartphone rises up from it.)

Female Narrator: Then, you can contact us at Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid.

(Visual: The phone number 1-800-889-2047 appears above the number pad on the phone, and the text, "Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid," appears below the purple line. The images sink into the purple line, which lowers as though to wipe the text away. The courthouse pops up from the line.)

Female Narrator: At the final hearing, the court’s job is to decide whether you have been abused and are in danger of more abuse from the Defendant.

(Visual: A red triangle with a white exclamation point on it generates directly over the courthouse. The courthouse shifts left along the purple line. A scroll-like paper unfurls from the red triangle; its bottom sits curled on the purple line.)

Female Narrator: Abuse means trying to cause or causing physical harm--

(Visual: Text that reads "Cause physical harm" appears in purple as a bullet point at the top of the page.)

Female Narrator:--placing another person in fear of imminent serious physical harm--

(Visual: Text that reads "Fear of imminent serious physical harm" appears in purple as a bullet point beneath the first.)

Female Narrator:--abusing children, stalking, or committing sexual assault.

(Visual: Text that reads "abusing children," "stalking," and "sexual assault" appear as three separate bullet points creating a vertical list down the page. The images descend beneath the line, which rises slightly. The person in the red shirt pops up from the line on the left side.)

Female Narrator: The court will listen to you--

(Visual: The person in an orange T-shirt appears on the right with their arms folded.)

Female Narrator:--to the Defendant--

(Visual: A person in a blue tank-top, a uniformed police officer, and a young person in a black T-shirt, bright green pants and a red cap pop up between the plaintiff and defendant.)

Female Narrator:--and sometimes to other witnesses, before deciding.

(Visual: The person in the orange T-shirt unfolds their arms.)

Female Narrator: Testimony is usually the most important evidence in RFA cases.

(Visual: The plaintiff and defendant sink beneath the line. The three witnesses move forward.)

Female Narrator: If there are other witnesses to the abuse, make sure they can come to your hearing and testify.

(Visual: The person and young person drop beneath the line and leave just the police officer. The officer folds their arms.)

Female Narrator: Sometimes, an important witness may not want to testify.

(Visual: The officer shifts to the right and the courthouse pops up on their left.)

Female Narrator: If that happens, ask the court clerk for a subpoena--

(Visual: A scroll-like document unfurls from behind the courthouse and drapes over top of it. The document is headed with the word "Subpoena" in capitals.)

Female Narrator:--which is an order for a person to appear in court and testify. For example--

(Visual: The officer unfolds their arms and places their left hand on their hip.)

Female Narrator:--if a police officer answered a 9-1-1 call about the abuse, they may tell you they can’t go to court without a subpoena.

(Visual: The scroll rolls itself back up and disappears behind the courthouse, and the officer sinks into the purple line.)

Female Narrator: Evidence can also include exhibits--

(Visual: The word "Exhibits" appears beneath the purple line. A smartphone with a text thread open on its face, documents on a clipboard marked with a red cross at the top of the top page, and Polaroid-style photos bound by a paperclip pop up from the purple line to the right of the courthouse.)

Female Narrator:--like text messages, medical records, or photos.

(Visual: The top of a manilla envelope peeks out from beneath the line. All of the exhibits drop into it and the envelope's flap closes over.)

Female Narrator: Bring copies of any exhibits for yourself, the Defendant, and the judge.

(Visual: The envelope comes into full view above the line and spawns two clones. The three envelopes are marked individually by a white label with red letters and read "Plaintiff", "Defendant" and "Judge" respectively. The images slide off to the left. The purple line reappears quickly and stretches horizontally across the screen. The man in the red shirt pops up on the left, followed by the courthouse on the right.)

Female Narrator: During the hearing, you may speak when the judge says it is your turn.

(Visual: The person in the red shirt and courthouse shift to the left, and the person in the orange T-shirt pops up to the right of the courthouse with their arms folded.)

Female Narrator: Be sure not to interrupt the Defendant or the judge.

(Visual: The gavel reappears in front of the courthouse and strikes its soundboard twice, then disappears.)

Female Narrator: At the end of the hearing,

if the judge agrees with you--

(Visual: A manilla envelope marked with a white label that reads "RFA" in red letters pops up beside the plaintiff.)

Female Narrator:--they will give you a Relief from Abuse order and give the Defendant a copy.

(Visual: A second envelope pops up next to the defendant. It's identical expect for a second label that reads "Copy" placed over the closed seal. The person unfolds their arms and puts their hand on their hip.)

Female Narrator: If the Defendant is at the hearing, the order goes into effect right away.

(Visual: The defendant and their envelope sink beneath the line.)

Female Narrator: If the Defendant doesn’t show up for the hearing, the court will ask the police to “serve”, or deliver the order to, the Defendant.

(Visual: Text appears beneath the purple line and reads "'Serve' equals Deliver". A brown, closed door drops down to the right of the courthouse.)

Female Narrator: The order will not go into effect until it’s been served to the Defendant.

(Visual: A disembodied hand carries an envelope marked "RFA" to the door. Two green, triangular shapes come forward and form a shield with a white checkmark on it above the courthouse. The clock reappears at the top-left side of the shield and its hands turn.)

Female Narrator: If a temporary order was issued, that order will remain in effect until the Defendant is served with the final order.

(Visual: The images slide off to the left. The purple line reappears quickly and stretches horizontally across the screen. From beneath the line, a red shield with a white exclamation point on it appears and sits above it. Beneath the line, text reads "Safety note.")

Female Narrator: Safety note

Female Narrator: If you think the Defendant might try to hurt you before they’re served with the RFA order--

(Visual: The search bar moves to the top of the computer screen and the hotline numbers appear below it. The short-haired person in the teal top pops up to the right of the computer screen.)

Vermont Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-228-7395
Vermont Sexual Violence Hotline 1-800-489-7273

Female Narrator:--talk to your local domestic violence agency about safety planning.

(Visual: The images slide off to the left. The purple line reappears quickly and stretches horizontally across the screen. Above it, a calendar with tear-off pages appears. It shows the month as JAN. The page tears off, making the next page visible, which says, “FEB.” After that, “MAR,” “APR,” “MAY,” “JUN,” “JUL,” “AUG,” “SEP,” “OCT,” “NOV,” and “DEC” appear in rapid succession. When the pages reach DEC, they stop tearing off.)

Female Narrator: The RFA order lasts for a fixed amount of time. If the Defendant violates the order--

(Visual: The police building rises from the purple line, beneath the calendar.)

Female Narrator:--contact your local police for help.

(Visual: The calendar disappears, and the police building drops beneath the purple line.)

Female Narrator: While the order is in effect, it applies anywhere in the United States.

(Visual: A map of the continental U.S. forms like a puzzle that uses the states as puzzle pieces in various shades of blue. It rises slightly and the person in the red shirt pops up from the purple line with their sealed RFA envelope to their right.)

Female Narrator: Always keep a copy with you so that you can prove you have an RFA order against the Defendant.

(Visual: The person in the orange T-shirt pops up from the line on the far-right side, their arms folded. A handgun appears in a white circle to their left.)

Female Narrator: In most cases, the Defendant cannot legally own or buy guns--

(Visual: A red line extends diagonally over the circle, across the gun.)

Female Narrator:--after the court gives you a final Relief from Abuse Order.

(Visual: The map, gun and envelope drop beneath the purple line. A purple smartphone with its number pad open rises in their place between the people.)

Female Narrator: If you have questions about that, ask an advocate or contact us at Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid.

(Visual: The phone number 1-800-889-2047 appears above the number pad, as though dialed. The people and smartphone disappear. A computer window pops up in their place. Inside the computer window, a purple list of steps appears - Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4, Step 5, Step 6. A red arrow moves down the list of steps and highlights each step in a darker shade of purple as it descends. Above the window, the URL vtlawhelp.org appears in purple, as though being typed.)

Female Narrator: Visit the RFA Roadmap at vtlawhelp.org for details and more videos.

(Visual: The list of steps swipes away to the left. Text appears that reads, "How to extend or modify your RFA order.")

Female Narrator: There, you can also learn how to extend or modify your RFA order before it expires, and how you can make more permanent changes like--

(Visual: The options appear in text on the screen as they are read, forming a list that runs vertically down the computer screen.)

Female Narrator:--divorce, child custody, or parentage.

(Visual: The computer screen moves off to the left. A new purple line stretches horizontally from the right and rests at the center.)

Female Narrator: If you have more questions--

(Visual: The logo for Legal Services Vermont and text "Working Together for Justice" appear atop the line and its contact info below it.)

Female Narrator:--contact Legal Services Vermont.

TEXT: Legal Services Vermont
Working together for justice
1-800-889-2047
vtlawhelp.org

Music ends.

End of transcript.

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