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Divorce Guide

Your Domestic Violence Safety Plan: A Checklist

What to gather, who to call and how to plan a safe exit for you and your children.

Request Lawyer ContactFor people seeking legal representation. For general information, use our guides and tools.
2 min readUpdated 7 Oct 20261 sourceDomestic Violence Act 1994
Contents

Documents to gather

Collect copies of important documents and keep them somewhere safe outside the home.

  • Your IC, passport and driving licence.
  • Your marriage certificate, your children’s birth certificates and any existing court orders.
  • Bank and credit card statements, EPF statements, insurance policies and property documents.
  • Evidence of the abuse, such as medical reports, photos of injuries and police reports.

Emergency contacts

Choose people you trust who you can turn to in an emergency: family, close friends, neighbours or colleagues who understand your situation. Share your safety plan with at least one person you trust completely.

Memorise key numbers or keep them somewhere secure:

  • Police emergency: 999
  • Talian Kasih: 15999
  • WAO: 03-3000 8858
  • AWAM: 03-7877 0224

Keep your lawyer’s contact details somewhere other than your phone, in case your phone is taken.

Money steps

Open a bank account in your own name if you do not have one. Start putting aside small amounts of cash somewhere safe.

Learn what you can about your household finances, including debts, loans and assets. You will need this later in the divorce.

If it is safe, keep a record of your spouse’s income and assets, such as salary slips, business records and property documents. This helps your lawyer seek fair maintenance and property division later.

Planning a safe exit

Plan your route. Choose the safest time to leave, when the abuser is not at home.

Pack a bag with clothes, medication, cash and your documents. Keep it at a trusted person’s home or in your car.

If you have children, plan how to take them with you safely. Know which shelter or safe house you will go to, or arrange to stay with trusted family or friends. Practise the route so you can follow it quickly under stress.

Before or right after you leave, make a police report about the violence. This creates an official record and lets you apply for a protection order. If needed, your lawyer can apply for an interim protection order on the same day.

Think about whether to file for divorce at the same time. A lawyer can advise on the best order of steps for your situation. If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact the Legal Aid Bureau (Jabatan Bantuan Guaman) or the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre.

Looking to engage a divorce lawyer? Once you are safe and want to understand your options for a protection order or divorce, request independent lawyer contact via WhatsApp: Request Lawyer Contact. For general information, use our guides and tools.

Frequently asked questions

What documents should I gather?
Your IC, marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, passport, bank statements, property documents and any evidence of the violence, such as medical reports and police reports.
Should I tell the police before I leave?
You do not have to. But a police report about the violence creates an official record that supports later legal action, including applying for a protection order.
Where can I go for help?
Contact WAO (Women's Aid Organisation) at 03-3000 8858, Talian Kasih at 15999, or AWAM (All Women's Action Society) at 03-7877 0224. In an emergency, call 999.

Related reading

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Looking to Engage a Divorce Lawyer?

For people seeking legal representation. For general information, use our guides and tools.

Request Lawyer Contact