SAFETY > SAFETY WITH AN ABUSER >

Protect and Prepare Yourself
Keep Evidence of Abuse
Develop Plans
What to Take With You
As You Are Leaving
After Obtaining a Restraining Order
If You Relocate

As You Are Leaving

• As you're leaving, grab the bag you hid, your driver's license, any checkbooks, and credit cards if you can. If there's time, take the originals of documents you might need - like birth certificates, social security cards, legal documents and financial documents.
  
  
• If you're in an emergency and need to get out right away, don't worry about gathering these things. While they're helpful to have, getting out safely should come first.
  
  
• Create a false trail. Call motels, real estate agencies, schools in a town at least six hours away from where you plan to go. Ask them questions that will need to be answered by them calling you back. Give them your old phone number.