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Church Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Matthew Dolman, Esq.
Legally Reviewed by
Matthew Dolman, Esq. National Civil Trial Attorney • Sexual Abuse Survivor Advocate

Home  >  Church Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Partially open wooden church office door leading into a dimly lit office, illustrating the serious nature of church sexual abuse allegations

Survivors may be able to sue churches and religious organizations when abuse by a pastor, priest, youth leader, employee, or volunteer is connected to the institution's negligence or other legally actionable conduct. The case may involve ignored warnings, inadequate supervision, or efforts to conceal prior complaints.

File Abuse Lawsuit is a national resource published by Dolman Law Group. We explain how these civil claims work and connect survivors with attorneys who investigate sexual abuse and institutional liability.

Quick Answer: Can You Sue a Church for Sexual Abuse?

Yes. Survivors may be able to sue a church or religious organization for sexual abuse committed by clergy, employees, volunteers, or others associated with the institution. A church may face civil liability when its negligence, failure to supervise, concealment of prior allegations, or other legally actionable conduct contributed to the abuse. Whether a lawsuit can proceed depends on the circumstances and applicable state law.

Quick Facts About Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

  • Who can file: Survivors of childhood or adult sexual abuse involving churches and religious organizations, or parents and legal representatives filing on behalf of eligible survivors.
  • Who may be liable: Churches, dioceses, religious organizations, individual perpetrators, and other entities whose actions or failures contributed to the abuse.
  • Common legal claims: Negligent hiring, supervision, or retention; failure to protect against known risks; and other claims recognized under applicable state law.
  • Potential compensation: Medical and counseling expenses, lost income, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages permitted by law.
  • Filing deadlines: Statutes of limitations vary by state, and some jurisdictions provide special filing rules for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
  • Legal representation: Dolman Law Group evaluates potential civil claims involving sexual abuse and institutional negligence. Consultations are free and confidential.

Who Are Church Sexual Abuse Lawyers?

Church sexual abuse lawyers represent survivors who experienced sexual abuse involving churches, religious organizations, clergy members, or individuals working under a religious institution's authority. These attorneys help survivors pursue civil lawsuits against perpetrators and institutions that may have failed to protect them.

Unlike criminal prosecutions, which focus on punishing offenders, civil lawsuits allow survivors to seek financial compensation and hold negligent organizations accountable for their actions or failures to act.

A church sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors:

  • Determine whether a church, religious organization, or individual may be legally responsible for the abuse.
  • Investigate allegations of negligent hiring, supervision, retention, or concealment.
  • Identify potential defendants, including affiliated religious institutions when legally appropriate.
  • Gather evidence and pursue relevant church records through the legal discovery process.
  • Evaluate applicable statutes of limitations and available legal remedies.
  • Pursue compensation through settlement negotiations or litigation.

Survivors can also learn more about their options through our nationwide sexual abuse lawyers resource. For claims involving a priest, pastor, or minister, see our clergy sexual abuse lawyers guide.

Can You Sue a Church for Sexual Abuse?

Yes, when the facts support a civil claim against the institution. The key question is not simply whether the accused person worked for a church. It is whether the church itself breached a legal duty or can otherwise be held responsible under state law.

For example, a claim may focus on leadership's response to previous complaints, supervision of a youth minister, or decisions that exposed children to a known risk. The individual perpetrator may also be named as a defendant.

When Can a Church Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse?

Depending on state law and the circumstances, a church may face civil liability for:

  • Negligent hiring: Failing to exercise reasonable care when screening clergy members, employees, or volunteers.
  • Negligent supervision: Failing to reasonably monitor individuals entrusted with children or other vulnerable people.
  • Negligent retention: Keeping an individual in a position of authority despite information indicating a foreseeable risk of abuse.
  • Failure to respond to complaints: Ignoring credible allegations or failing to take legally required or otherwise reasonable protective measures.
  • Concealment of abuse: Taking actions to hide allegations or protect accused individuals, where those actions support a recognized legal claim.

These cases may involve a local congregation, a larger religious organization, or multiple defendants. Liability depends on each entity's conduct, responsibilities, and relationship to the alleged perpetrator.

For more information about potential claims, see our guide explaining what qualifies as a church sexual abuse lawsuit.

Does Religious Freedom Protect Churches From Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?

Religious freedom does not provide churches with blanket immunity from civil sexual abuse lawsuits. However, First Amendment protections, including the church-autonomy doctrine, can affect which claims courts may hear and how they evaluate a religious institution's conduct.

Courts may apply neutral principles of law to certain negligence and other civil claims without deciding religious doctrine or interfering with protected religious governance. Whether a particular claim can proceed depends on the facts, the applicable law, and the issues the court would need to resolve.

For a more detailed explanation, see our article on church and state legal boundaries in clergy sexual abuse cases.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse in a Church?

A church sexual abuse lawsuit may name the perpetrator, a local congregation, a diocese or denomination, or an organization that operated a school, camp, or youth program. Which defendants belong in a case depends on who controlled the relevant activities, what each entity knew, and what legal duties each owed.

Dioceses and Religious Organizations

Larger religious institutions, including Catholic dioceses, regional church bodies, and denominational organizations, may face liability when their own conduct contributes to sexual abuse or when another recognized legal basis establishes responsibility.

For example, allegations may involve religious leaders who transferred accused clergy members between congregations, concealed prior complaints, or failed to take appropriate action after learning of misconduct.

However, a national denomination is not automatically responsible for abuse occurring within an affiliated congregation. Courts may examine the organization's authority, degree of control, involvement in personnel decisions, and other relevant factors.

Religious Schools, Camps, and Youth Programs

Churches and religious organizations frequently operate schools, daycare programs, summer camps, youth ministries, and other activities involving children.

When sexual abuse occurs in these settings, potential liability may extend to the organization operating the program, individuals responsible for supervision, and other entities whose legally actionable conduct contributed to the abuse.

For example, survivors of abuse involving church-operated educational programs may also find helpful information in our guides to school sexual abuse lawsuits and Catholic school teacher sexual abuse.

Determining which parties can be held accountable is an important part of investigating a church sexual abuse claim. An attorney can evaluate the relationships between the individuals and organizations involved and identify potential defendants under applicable law.

What Types of Sexual Abuse Occur in Churches?

Sexual abuse in churches and religious organizations can involve clergy members, employees, volunteers, youth leaders, or others who use positions of trust and authority to exploit vulnerable individuals. Abuse may occur during religious services, private counseling sessions, youth activities, church-sponsored trips, or other situations where individuals are entrusted to the institution's care.

Although many church sexual abuse lawsuits involve childhood abuse, adults may also experience sexual assault, coercion, or exploitation within religious settings.

Child Sexual Abuse in Churches

Children may be particularly vulnerable to abuse when religious leaders or trusted adults use their positions to gain access to them. Abuse can occur during Sunday school, youth ministry activities, religious education, overnight retreats, or private meetings with clergy members.

Perpetrators may use grooming behaviors to establish trust with children and their families, gradually violate personal boundaries, and discourage victims from reporting misconduct. The CDC’s child sexual abuse prevention program for youth-serving organizations addresses prevention policies and safer environments for children.

Churches and religious organizations may face civil liability when their negligence or other legally actionable conduct contributes to the abuse. See also our article on types of sexual assault within the church.

Sexual Abuse During Religious Counseling

Some survivors experience sexual exploitation or assault during pastoral counseling, spiritual guidance, or other private meetings with religious leaders.

These situations may involve an individual who exploits a position of trust, emotional vulnerability, or spiritual authority to establish an inappropriate sexual relationship or commit sexual assault.

Whether misconduct supports a civil claim depends on the circumstances, including consent, coercion, the parties' relationship, and applicable state law.

Which Churches and Religious Organizations Have Faced Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?

Sexual abuse allegations and civil lawsuits have involved numerous churches, denominations, and religious organizations throughout the United States. These cases often raise questions about whether religious institutions adequately screened and supervised clergy members, responded to complaints, and protected children and other vulnerable individuals.

Although the circumstances vary, survivors may be able to pursue claims against individual perpetrators and religious organizations whose negligence or other legally actionable conduct contributed to the abuse.

Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Catholic Church sexual abuse litigation has involved allegations against priests, bishops, and other clergy members, as well as claims that dioceses and other Catholic institutions failed to respond appropriately to reports of abuse.

Some lawsuits allege that church officials concealed complaints, reassigned accused clergy members, or allowed individuals to continue working with children despite warnings of misconduct.

Survivors can learn more about potential claims against Catholic institutions, dioceses, and clergy members in our guide to Catholic Church sexual abuse lawsuits.

Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Sexual abuse allegations involving Southern Baptist churches have raised concerns about how congregations and denominational organizations respond to reports of misconduct by pastors, ministers, employees, and volunteers.

Because many Southern Baptist congregations operate independently, determining which individuals or organizations may be legally responsible requires examining the relationships between local churches, denominational entities, and the alleged perpetrators.

Our guide to Southern Baptist sexual abuse lawsuits explains potential legal claims and who may be eligible to pursue compensation.

Mormon Church (LDS) Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon or LDS Church, has faced sexual abuse lawsuits involving allegations of misconduct and institutional failures to protect vulnerable individuals.

Some claims have raised questions about how church leaders handled abuse reports, whether allegations were appropriately investigated, and whether institutional practices contributed to the harm experienced by survivors.

Learn more about allegations, legal proceedings, and potential claims in our guide to Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuits.

Jehovah's Witness Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Sexual abuse lawsuits involving Jehovah's Witness congregations and affiliated organizations have included allegations concerning abuse reporting, internal disciplinary procedures, and the handling of complaints against congregation members or individuals in positions of authority.

Potential civil claims may involve individual perpetrators, local congregations, or other organizations, depending on the facts and applicable law.

Our Jehovah's Witness sexual abuse lawsuits page provides additional information about these claims.

Sexual Abuse in Other Churches and Religious Organizations

Sexual abuse is not limited to any particular denomination or religious tradition. Allegations may involve independent Christian churches, Protestant congregations, nondenominational ministries, religious schools, faith-based youth organizations, and institutions affiliated with other religions.

Survivors may have legal options even when the organization involved has not been the subject of widespread public investigations or national litigation. Cases involving religious institutions may also overlap with boarding school sexual abuse or other institutional claims, depending on the setting.

The central legal questions are generally whether the abuse occurred, which individuals or organizations owed relevant legal duties, and whether their actions or failures provide a basis for civil liability.

How Can Churches Be Held Responsible for Covering Up Sexual Abuse?

Churches and religious organizations may face civil liability when their efforts to conceal sexual abuse, ignore credible allegations, or protect accused individuals contribute to additional harm. Our LDS helpline investigation overview discusses reporting and concealment allegations in one religious setting; those allegations do not establish liability in any other case. Depending on state law, these actions may support claims involving negligent supervision, negligent retention, misrepresentation, or other legally recognized causes of action.

Not every failure to report or investigate an allegation automatically creates civil liability. However, evidence that church leadership knew about a foreseeable risk of sexual abuse and failed to take reasonable protective measures can be important in establishing institutional responsibility.

Can a Church Be Sued for Transferring an Accused Pastor or Priest?

Yes. A church or religious organization may face civil claims when its decision to transfer or reassign an accused clergy member contributes to subsequent abuse.

For example, if religious officials knowingly move an individual accused of sexual misconduct to another congregation without addressing a foreseeable danger, that decision may become evidence in a negligence lawsuit.

Whether the transferring organization is legally responsible depends on its knowledge, authority, conduct, and the applicable law.

Does Reporting Abuse Only to Church Leadership Protect an Institution From Liability?

No. Handling sexual abuse allegations through an internal religious process does not automatically shield an organization from civil liability or eliminate legal reporting obligations.

Certain clergy members and other individuals may be mandatory reporters under state law, although reporting requirements, exceptions, and clergy-penitent privilege rules differ by jurisdiction. The federal Child Welfare Information Gateway provides resources for understanding state child-protection laws. Survivors can also review our guide to reporting sexual abuse.

An internal investigation or religious disciplinary proceeding also does not necessarily replace a report to law enforcement or child protective services when reporting is legally required.

What Evidence Is Needed for a Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Evidence in a church sexual abuse lawsuit may include survivor testimony, witness statements, church records, prior complaints, medical documentation, and communications involving the alleged perpetrator or religious institution. Attorneys use this information to investigate the abuse, identify potentially responsible parties, and determine whether a church's negligence or other misconduct contributed to the harm.

Survivors do not need to have every document or piece of evidence before contacting an attorney. Many church sexual abuse cases involve incidents that occurred years or decades earlier, and relevant records may be held by the religious organization or obtained during litigation.

What Types of Evidence Can Help Prove Church Sexual Abuse?

Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include:

  • Survivor testimony: A survivor's account of the abuse, including the circumstances, individuals involved, and any subsequent disclosures.
  • Witness statements: Information from individuals who observed concerning behavior, received disclosures, or knew about previous allegations.
  • Church records: Personnel files, disciplinary records, incident reports, internal correspondence, and documents concerning the alleged perpetrator's assignments or responsibilities.
  • Prior complaints: Reports of similar misconduct that may help establish what church leadership knew and when.
  • Electronic communications: Emails, text messages, social media messages, photographs, or other communications involving the alleged perpetrator.
  • Medical and counseling records: Documentation that may help establish injuries, psychological harm, treatment, or other damages.
  • Law enforcement or child protective services records: Reports or investigative materials that may be relevant to the allegations, subject to applicable confidentiality and disclosure rules.

The evidence required depends on the legal claims being pursued. For example, proving that an individual committed sexual abuse may involve different evidence than establishing that a religious institution negligently retained that person despite prior warnings.

What Should Survivors Do to Preserve Evidence?

Survivors considering legal action should preserve any relevant materials already in their possession, including messages, photographs, letters, documents, and records of previous complaints.

Electronic evidence should generally be retained in its original form when possible, rather than edited or deleted. Survivors should not attempt to access private church systems, obtain confidential records without authorization, or contact an alleged perpetrator to gather evidence.

An attorney can help determine what information may be useful and how to preserve it appropriately. Our guide to protecting digital evidence in sexual abuse cases covers messages and other electronic records.

For additional guidance, see our article on what evidence is needed for a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit.

What Compensation Is Available in Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?

Survivors who pursue successful church sexual abuse lawsuits may be entitled to financial compensation for the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial harm they experienced. Depending on the circumstances and applicable state law, compensation may include medical expenses, mental health treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and other legally recoverable damages.

The amount of compensation available depends on factors such as the severity and duration of the abuse, its impact on the survivor, the evidence supporting the claim, and the legal responsibility of the defendants.

How Much Is a Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Worth?

There is no standard settlement amount for church sexual abuse lawsuits. The potential value of a claim depends on the individual circumstances, including the harm suffered, available evidence, applicable law, and the defendants' legal responsibility and ability to satisfy a judgment or settlement.

Some cases involve substantial compensation, particularly when evidence establishes serious harm or institutional misconduct. However, previously reported settlements do not guarantee similar results in other lawsuits.

Our guide to sexual abuse lawsuit settlement amounts explains factors that may influence compensation.

Do Churches Have Insurance That Covers Sexual Abuse Claims?

Some churches and religious organizations maintain liability insurance policies that may provide coverage for certain sexual abuse-related claims. However, coverage depends on the policy language, applicable exclusions, the timing of the alleged misconduct, and other legal considerations.

Insurance disputes may arise over whether a particular claim falls within a policy's coverage or whether exclusions apply to intentional misconduct.

In some cases, multiple insurance policies or coverage periods may be relevant, particularly when allegations involve abuse that occurred many years earlier.

For more information, read our article on whether churches have sexual abuse insurance.

Can Survivors Receive Compensation Without Going to Trial?

Yes. Many civil sexual abuse claims are resolved through negotiated settlements rather than trials. A settlement may provide compensation without requiring a judge or jury to decide the case.

However, settlement is not guaranteed, and some claims require litigation or trial to resolve disputes over liability or damages.

An attorney can explain the advantages and disadvantages of a proposed settlement and help survivors make informed decisions about whether to accept an offer or continue pursuing their claims.

How Long Do Survivors Have to File a Lawsuit Against a Church?

The deadline to file a church sexual abuse lawsuit depends on the state where the claim is brought, the survivor's age when the abuse occurred, and the laws applicable to the case. Some states have extended or eliminated certain filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims, while others have enacted special laws allowing survivors to pursue claims that would otherwise have been time-barred.

These deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, can be complicated, particularly when the abuse occurred decades ago or involved religious organizations operating in multiple states.

What Are Child Sexual Abuse Revival Laws?

Revival laws allow certain survivors to file civil lawsuits that would otherwise be barred by an expired statute of limitations.

Some states have created temporary filing windows, while others have adopted broader changes affecting historical childhood sexual abuse claims.

Revival laws do not necessarily apply to every survivor or every defendant. Courts may also consider constitutional challenges and other restrictions affecting their application.

An attorney can determine whether a particular revival law may apply to a survivor's case.

Does Concealment by Church Officials Extend the Filing Deadline?

In some circumstances, fraudulent concealment or other legally recognized tolling doctrines may affect the deadline for filing a church sexual abuse lawsuit.

For example, evidence that religious officials intentionally concealed information relevant to a claim may become important when evaluating whether an otherwise expired lawsuit can proceed.

However, concealment does not automatically extend the statute of limitations. Survivors must satisfy the requirements of the applicable state's law.

How Do You File a Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Filing a church sexual abuse lawsuit generally begins with a confidential consultation with an attorney who handles sexual abuse and institutional negligence claims. The attorney evaluates the circumstances, identifies potentially responsible parties, and determines whether a civil lawsuit may be filed under applicable state law.

Survivors do not need to know every detail about the church's involvement or have all the evidence before seeking legal guidance. An attorney can help investigate the allegations and explain the available options.

1. Speak With a Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer

During an initial consultation, an attorney may ask about the abuse, the individuals involved, the religious organization, and any previous reports or complaints.

The purpose is to evaluate potential legal claims and explain the survivor's options. Survivors can ask questions about confidentiality, filing deadlines, legal fees, and what pursuing a lawsuit may involve.

2. Investigate the Abuse and Identify Responsible Parties

If the attorney accepts the case, the legal team may investigate the allegations and determine whether the church or another religious organization could share responsibility.

This process may involve reviewing available documents, identifying witnesses, examining prior complaints, and investigating whether church leadership knew or should have known about the risk of abuse.

Potential defendants may include the individual perpetrator, a local congregation, a diocese, or another religious entity, depending on the evidence and applicable law.

3. File a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

When sufficient legal grounds exist, an attorney may prepare and file a civil complaint identifying the defendants, describing the allegations, and stating the legal claims.

The lawsuit may seek compensation for medical expenses, psychological harm, lost income, pain and suffering, and other recoverable damages.

Filing a civil lawsuit is separate from pursuing criminal charges. A survivor may have a viable civil claim even if the alleged perpetrator was never criminally prosecuted or convicted.

4. Gather Evidence Through Discovery

After a lawsuit is filed, the parties may exchange relevant information through the discovery process.

This can involve document requests, written questions, depositions, and subpoenas. In church sexual abuse litigation, discovery may include records concerning prior complaints, clergy assignments, internal investigations, and institutional policies.

Attorneys can also seek appropriate protective measures for sensitive information, although confidentiality and anonymity cannot be guaranteed in every case.

5. Negotiate a Settlement or Proceed to Trial

Some church sexual abuse lawsuits resolve through settlement negotiations, while others proceed through additional litigation or trial.

A settlement may allow the survivor to receive compensation without a trial. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the case may be presented to a judge or jury.

An attorney can explain the available options, evaluate settlement offers, and help the survivor make informed decisions throughout the legal process.

For more information about pursuing claims involving religious leaders, see our guide on how to file a sexual abuse claim against clergy and what to expect when filing a sexual abuse lawsuit.

Why Choose Dolman Law Group for a Church Sexual Abuse Case?

Church sexual abuse lawsuits can involve powerful religious institutions, complicated organizational structures, decades-old allegations, and disputes over who knew about the abuse and when. Pursuing these claims requires more than a general understanding of personal injury law. Survivors need attorneys who understand sexual abuse litigation, institutional negligence, and the challenges of holding organizations accountable for failures that allowed abuse to occur.

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA represents survivors in complex civil sexual abuse litigation involving allegations of institutional negligence, failures to protect children, and misconduct by individuals in positions of trust.

Dolman Law Group has 16 attorneys with more than 200 years of combined legal experience and has recovered more than $700 million for clients across its practice areas. These are firmwide credentials and results, not figures specific to church sexual abuse lawsuits. The firm’s sexual abuse litigation team includes founding partner Matthew Dolman, managing partner Sara Beller, and attorneys Jamie Powers and Michael Baudinet. See the firm’s attorney roster for more information about its legal team.

Who Is Matthew Dolman, and What Experience Does He Bring to Sexual Abuse Litigation?

Matthew Dolman is the founding partner of Dolman Law Group and a Florida civil trial attorney with more than two decades of legal experience.

His practice includes complex personal injury and sexual abuse litigation, with an emphasis on case preparation, litigation strategy, and pursuing claims against organizations whose conduct may have contributed to serious injuries.

The firm identifies recognition for Matthew Dolman from Super Lawyers, Florida Legal Elite, and Best Lawyers. See the firm’s sexual abuse practice page for more information about its work representing survivors.

What Experience Does Sara Beller Have Representing Sexual Abuse Survivors?

Sara Beller is a managing partner at Dolman Law Group whose background includes extensive work representing survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse.

Before joining the firm, Beller practiced at a national plaintiffs' law firm, handling complex sexual abuse litigation involving discovery, depositions, mediation, and trial preparation.

Earlier in her career, she spent more than six years as a Deputy District Attorney in Riverside County, California, working in the Sexual Assault Child Abuse unit. That experience informs her approach to evaluating evidence, preparing cases, and working with survivors.

She brings that background to complex civil sexual abuse cases involving survivors and institutions.

Has Dolman Law Group Handled Lawsuits Against Organizations Accused of Failing to Protect Children?

Yes. Dolman Law Group has filed civil lawsuits involving allegations that major online platforms failed to adequately protect children from sexual grooming and exploitation.

The firm's litigation involving Roblox and Discord provides documented examples of its work investigating organizational conduct, child safety practices, evidence preservation, and potential institutional liability.

Although lawsuits against technology companies differ legally and factually from claims against religious institutions, both may require attorneys to investigate whether an organization knew about foreseeable risks, what protective measures were available, and whether its actions or omissions contributed to the harm.

The firm documents this work on its Discord sexual abuse litigation page, while its media appearances identify interviews featuring Matthew Dolman and Sara Beller on child exploitation litigation. This is relevant experience investigating institutional conduct, without suggesting that these cases involved churches.

Frequently Asked Questions About Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Can I sue a church if the pastor or priest was never criminally charged?

Yes. Civil sexual abuse lawsuits do not require a criminal conviction or prosecution, and survivors may pursue claims when sufficient evidence supports civil liability.

Can I remain anonymous when suing a church for sexual abuse?

In some cases. Courts may allow survivors to proceed under a pseudonym or use protective measures to safeguard sensitive information, but anonymity is not automatic and depends on applicable court rules.

How long does a church sexual abuse lawsuit take?

The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the allegations, number of defendants, available evidence, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial.

How much does it cost to hire a church sexual abuse lawyer?

Many civil sexual abuse attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning their legal fees depend on obtaining a recovery. Dolman Law Group offers free initial consultations, and an attorney can explain the specific fee arrangement before representation begins.

What if church leaders pressured me not to report the abuse?

You may still have legal options. Pressure to remain silent, threats, or efforts to conceal allegations may be relevant to an attorney's investigation of the abuse and potential institutional liability.

How do I find an experienced church sexual abuse lawyer?

Look for an attorney with documented experience in civil sexual abuse litigation, institutional negligence claims, and complex litigation against organizations. Review the attorney's professional background, relevant cases, and experience investigating institutional misconduct.

Speak With a Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer About Your Legal Options

If you were sexually abused by someone connected to a church or religious organization, you can ask an attorney to review whether the individual, the institution, or both may be legally responsible. You do not need to gather every record before reaching out.

Contact Dolman Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. The firm can evaluate your circumstances, discuss filing deadlines, and explain your potential civil claims.

Request a Free, Confidential Consultation

Survivors seeking immediate emotional support or information about reporting can also contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline.

Matthew Dolman, Esq.
Legally Reviewed by

Matthew Dolman, Esq.

Founding Partner • Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 
National Civil Trial Attorney

Matt Dolman is a civil trial attorney with more than two decades of experience representing individuals in complex, sensitive litigation nationwide. His work includes cases involving sexual abuse and institutional misconduct. He approaches these matters with discretion and a clear sensitivity to the experiences of survivors. Dolman Law Group has secured more than $700 million in recoveries for clients. Matt is recognized by Super Lawyers, Florida Legal Elite, and Best Lawyers, and is a Lifetime Member of both the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums.

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Table Of Contents

  • Who Are Church Sexual Abuse Lawyers?
  • Can You Sue a Church for Sexual Abuse?
  • Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse in a Church?
  • What Types of Sexual Abuse Occur in Churches?
  • Which Churches and Religious Organizations Have Faced Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?
  • How Can Churches Be Held Responsible for Covering Up Sexual Abuse?
  • What Evidence Is Needed for a Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
  • What Compensation Is Available in Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?
  • How Long Do Survivors Have to File a Lawsuit Against a Church?
  • How Do You File a Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
  • Why Choose Dolman Law Group for a Church Sexual Abuse Case?
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
  • Speak With a Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer About Your Legal Options

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