Safety, Crime, Reentry & Legal Help · Surprise rank #81
Domestic-Violence Survivor on a Shared Utility or Phone Account? NY Lets You Exit Without a Cancellation Fee
New York law lets domestic-violence survivors leave certain shared utility, wireless and covered communications contracts without termination fees or penalties.
Who
Domestic-violence survivors who are parties to qualifying shared utility, wireless, telephone or covered cable agreements under New York law.
What to do
Start here: Tell the utility or communications provider that you are requesting release from a shared account under New York's domestic-violence contract-termination protection and ask for its attestation procedure.
Eligibility: The account and service must fall under the applicable New York statute. The survivor uses the required written attestation/process; providers are restricted from demanding unnecessary confidential details.
What you get
A survivor can opt out of a covered shared contract while the other account holder remains responsible for the continuing service.
Benefit: Avoidance of cancellation, early-termination or similar charges for leaving the covered shared contract.
Possible value: Depends on the provider's normal termination charges and remaining contract term.
Good to know
Important: This is not a blanket right to cancel every solo utility or internet contract. The statutes cover specified shared contracts and service types.
Availability: Active legal protection
Why people miss it: Survivors may keep financially dangerous shared accounts because they assume ordinary early-termination fees still apply.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026