FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Across the nation, there are civil and criminal laws established to protect individuals who have experienced sexual violence, particularly if they were minors at the time. In several states, specific legislation has been enacted to empower survivors of child sexual abuse to pursue legal recourse while maintaining their anonymity. This crucial provision not only safeguards your privacy but also enables you to engage in the civil proceedings with utmost safety and confidentiality. 

We recognize that discussing details about your lawsuit is a deeply personal decision, and you have the full right to maintain complete confidentiality if that is your preference. Be assured that any information you share with us will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. As an organization, we highly value and prioritize the privacy and anonymity of survivors.    

Although we suggest considering the support of a therapist throughout this process, the choice ultimately rests with you. 

We understand that every case of sexual abuse is unique, and the process of filing a claim or lawsuit entails various steps. Fortunately, our highly-trained team is committed to ensuring that this process is as smooth and straightforward as possible for you. To begin, all you need to do is reach out to our firm for a complimentary and confidential legal consultation. Our advocate, who is well-versed in trauma-informed practices, will listen compassionately to your personal experience of abuse and its impact on your life while discussing your legal options.

No, it’s not too late. Even if you filed your claim on your own during the bankruptcy process, you can still hire an attorney to represent you moving forward. The process is now in a stage where it is critical to have legal support to help protect your rights, properly value your claim, and avoid mistakes that could impact your recovery.

Yes. Even though the filing deadline for the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy has passed, you may still have legal options. Depending on when and where the abuse occurred, you might be eligible to pursue a civil case against other responsible parties — including local councils, sponsoring organizations (like churches or schools), or, in some cases, the Boy Scouts of America itself.

You may also qualify as a Future Abuse Claimant under the Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP) — meaning it is possible that your claim could be added to the existing settlement if certain conditions are met. While this path is still unsettled and is may depend on ongoing developments in the Third Circuit Court, it's important to know that this is only one of several potential avenues forward. State laws are changing rapidly in favor of survivors, and new legal windows, or civil opportunities, may apply to your situation. An attorney can help you assess all available pathways based on your specific circumstances.

 In many cases, yes. Troops are often sponsored by outside organizations — such as churches, schools, or civic groups — known as “chartering organizations.” If the organization had a role in selecting adult leaders, supervising activities, or failed to act on warning signs, they may also be legally responsible. Depending on the details of your case and the state in which you were abused, you may be able to bring a claim against the sponsoring organization, even if the abuse happened years ago.

Not at all. It’s incredibly common for survivors to wait years — even decades — before speaking out, especially in faith-based settings. Today, many states have changed their laws, or are in the process of changing its laws, to give survivors more time to come forward. You may still have legal options, even if you think the window has closed.

Yes. Bankruptcy changes the process but does not eliminate your right to compensation. In this situation, it is critical to act quickly as there are usually deadlines (called bar dates) by which you must file a claim. Reach out now for more details. 

It could. When religious institutions reassign clergy instead of addressing abuse, those decisions can raise serious legal and ethical concerns. If something like this happened in your case, it’s important to speak with someone familiar with clergy abuse claims to understand how those actions may be relevant.

Yes, you may still have a legal claim. In many states, clergy and other trusted leaders — including LDS bishops — are required to report child abuse when they learn about it. Even if your disclosure was years ago, and even if the Church handled it internally, that doesn’t remove your legal right to seek justice. Many states now allow survivors to file claims years or even decades after the abuse occurred.

You don’t need proof of a criminal conviction to file a civil case. Many survivors wait to come forward because their abuser was trusted or admired, and they feared they wouldn’t be believed. Often, once one survivor speaks out, others often feel empowered to come forward about the same abuser, and that leads to criminal investigations and convictions. Your experience matters, and you still have rights, no matter how long it’s been.

Yes. In most cases, you can file your claim under a pseudonym (e.g., Jane/John Doe) to protect your identity. Your privacy is a priority!

Yes, potentially. Even though SBC churches are autonomous, recent evidence has shown that SBC leadership knew about widespread abuse and failed to act. In many cases, both the local church and broader leadership may be liable.

It’s incredibly common for survivors to wait years — even decades — before speaking out, especially in faith-based settings. Today, many states have changed their laws to give survivors more time to come forward. You may still have legal options, even if you think the window has closed.

Yes. In most cases, you can file your claim under a pseudonym (e.g., Jane/John Doe) to protect your identity. Your privacy is a priority!

Yes. In many states, survivors can file civil claims against public schools and school districts — even for abuse that happened years ago. These cases can involve unique rules, including shorter reporting deadlines, because public institutions are government entities.

Unlike private schools, public school districts are funded and overseen by the state, which means legal claims may be subject to specific procedures, shorter timelines, or limits on compensation. In some cases, states create settlement programs or funds to resolve school-related abuse claims — but these programs often have strict deadlines. That’s why it’s especially important to speak with a legal professional as soon as possible to avoid missing your opportunity to seek justice.

Many states have passed laws extending or reopening the window of time for survivors to file claims — even for abuse that happened decades ago. 

These cases frequently center on whether the school failed to act — whether it ignored warning signs, placed students at continued risk, or otherwise failed in its responsibility to protect you. Speaking with an attorney can help you understand what laws apply to your situation and what paths may be available to pursue justice against those who should have protected you.

If the program was run by or affiliated with a school or educational institution, the school may still be legally responsible — even if the abuse happened outside of regular school hours. That includes sports teams, enrichment programs, overnight trips, and more. Every case is different, and we’re here to help you understand your rights.