Survivors of sexual abuse connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have legal options that have expanded significantly in recent years. Many states have opened temporary filing windows for survivors of past abuse, and the LDS Church has begun resolving some claims through private settlement processes. Survivors who haven’t pursued a civil claim before may now be able to do so.

As a firm, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. has practiced personal injury law and civil litigation for more than 45 years. With offices in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Hawaii, we represent clients in LDS Church sexual abuse cases and other claims against large institutions in several states. For survivors whose cases involve abuse that occurred in jurisdictions we are not licensed in, we work with experienced co-counsel to see justice done.

If you’re considering legal action related to abuse connected to the LDS Church, call (800) 451-1002 for a confidential consultation. There’s no obligation, and consultations are free.

Why Choose Shaheen & Gordon for an LDS Abuse Case

Institutional sexual abuse cases require legal work that’s different from most personal injury matters. Survivors may feel intimidated when pursuing the claim: the abuse often happened years or decades before the case was filed, and the institution often has its own legal team and substantial resources devoted to its defense. Evidence may include church records and prior reports that the institution would prefer to keep private.

Shaheen & Gordon has represented injured clients across the country since 1981 and has recovered over $500 million in compensation. We routinely take on cases against large institutional defendants and corporate manufacturers with the resources to defend themselves aggressively. Our attorneys apply that same approach to Mormon church abuse claims with a thorough investigation, evidence gathering that goes beyond what the institution voluntarily produces, a willingness to litigate when settlement isn’t possible, and coordination with other counsel when cases are part of broader proceedings.

What survivors can expect when working with our team:

• Confidential, no-obligation initial consultation
• Trauma-informed communication throughout the case
• Privacy protections, including pseudonymous filing where state law permits
• Contingency fee representation, meaning no attorney fees unless we recover compensation
• Coordination with experienced co-counsel for cases in states where our attorneys are not directly licensed, and with lead counsel when cases are part of broader institutional litigation

What Civil Cases Against the LDS Church Typically Involve

Civil litigation against the LDS Church has demonstrated several recurring patterns of mistreatment alleged by plaintiffs. While each case turns on its specific facts, the broader claims often involve:

• Abuse by people in positions of religious authority. Lawsuits have alleged abuse by bishops, ward leaders, youth program leaders, and other adults in trusted roles within local congregations.
• Reports handled outside of law enforcement. The LDS Church operates a confidential “helpline” that connects local leaders to attorneys when abuse is reported. Plaintiffs have alleged that this system has routed reports through legal channels rather than to law enforcement or counseling resources, and that records of these reports were sometimes destroyed.
• Transfers and continued access to children. Some lawsuits allege that known or suspected abusers were transferred to new congregations or roles rather than being reported, allowing further abuse to occur.
• Worthiness interviews. Some cases have raised concerns about the practice of private interviews between adult leaders and minor congregants, particularly where those interviews covered sexual topics.
• Known offenders in positions of trust. Some lawsuits allege the church allowed individuals with prior abuse reports or registered sex offender status to hold callings and positions, giving them access to children.

These are allegations made in litigation, not findings against the LDS Church as an institution. The substantive issues in each case are determined by the court or through settlement.

How These Cases Often Develop

Sexual abuse in religious settings rarely happens out of nowhere. In many LDS cases that have moved through civil court, the relationship between the abuser and the survivor developed gradually over months or years through ordinary-looking activities like youth programs, Bible study sessions, mentoring relationships, or one-on-one conversations.

A few patterns:

• A trusted adult in a church role (bishop, ward leader, youth program leader, or other authority figure) takes special interest in a child or teen
• Private contact increases over time, often framed as spiritual mentorship or counseling
• The child may feel singled out, chosen, or uniquely valued by the adult’s attention
• Boundaries shift gradually, with physical contact or private conversations becoming more personal

Many survivors describe realizing years later that what looked like a normal mentoring relationship was actually a pattern of grooming. The slow nature of how these situations develop is one reason survivors often don’t recognize or talk about what happened until much later.

Recent Legal Developments

Independent investigative reporting has documented more than 30 instances where the LDS Church paid settlements to survivors of sexual abuse by church members, totaling over $52 million in known payments. 

Many additional settlement amounts remain confidential under non-disclosure agreements. In 2025, the church reportedly resolved more than 100 California child sexual abuse cases through private mediation, with settlement terms not publicly disclosed. 

For survivors who have been waiting to see whether the legal system can deliver accountability, these developments suggest the answer increasingly is yes. Civil claims are moving forward, private settlements are being paid, and even if your claim is considered old to file as a lawsuit, you may still be eligible to participate.

Who Can File an LDS Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Eligibility depends on the facts of your case and the state where the abuse occurred. However, civil claims against the LDS Church generally require four core pieces of information:

Who Committed the Abuse

You don’t necessarily need to remember the abuser’s full name to begin a case.  If the person who abused you was an LDS Church leader, employee, or member, that may suffice. This includes bishops, missionaries, ward leaders, youth program leaders, or other adults in church roles. Information about their role, congregation, time period, or other details can often be enough to start the work of identifying them. 

Your Age at the Time

Most LDS abuse cases involve abuse that began before the survivor turned 18. Abuse that continued into adulthood can still qualify if it started while you were a minor. Adult survivors of sexual abuse or misconduct by church leaders—who may have been preyed upon in counseling, mentorship, or other authority-based relationships—might also have viable claims, depending on the state and the specific facts.

Your Connection to the Church

If your relationship with the abuser developed through the church or the abuse occurred in a church-related context, including church property, a church-sponsored event, a youth activity, a camp, a mission trip, or other private meetings arranged through the church, that may qualify you to file an LDS sexual abuse suit.

The Type of Abuse

The abuse involved sexual misconduct of some kind, whether that was physical sexual contact, sexual exposure or exploitation, inappropriate sexual conversations, or other unwanted sexual conduct. If you’re not sure if what happened to you qualifies, an attorney can help you sort through what you remember and identify what additional information might be useful.

Statutes of Limitations and Look-Back Windows

Filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse civil claims have been extended or eliminated in many states. This has given survivors with older claims a chance to bring their cases forward. Which deadline applies depends on where the abuse occurred.

State supreme courts in New Hampshire and Maine have separately ruled that these expanded deadlines cannot revive claims that were already expired under prior law. Other states have passed similar reforms, including California’s elimination of the statute of limitations for new claims, while temporary look-back windows in New York and New Jersey have since closed.

Even in states where a direct civil lawsuit may no longer be possible, other paths to justice may exist, including private settlement processes that the LDS Church has offered to survivors. A consultation with a sexual abuse lawyer is the most reliable way to identify what options apply to your situation.

What Compensation May Be Available?

Civil claims for sexual abuse can pursue several different categories of damages. The specific compensation in any case depends on the harm done, the strength of the evidence, and the law of the state where the case is filed. Damages may include:

• Medical and mental health care. Counseling, therapy, psychiatric care, medication, and other treatment costs, both incurred and reasonably anticipated.
• Economic losses. Lost income, lost earning capacity, missed educational or career opportunities, and other financial harm linked to the trauma.
• Pain and suffering. Damages for emotional distress, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic harm.
• Punitive damages. Additional damages in cases where the institution’s conduct (such as concealment or willful disregard of abuse reports) warrants them.

How a Lawyer Can Help

The legal work in an institutional abuse case extends well beyond filing a complaint. An attorney handling these cases helps with:

• Investigating what happened and what the institution knew. Through formal discovery and subpoenas, an attorney can request internal records, prior abuse reports, personnel files, and communications that the institution would not voluntarily produce.
• Identifying all responsible parties. A case may involve the individual abuser, local church leadership, regional or national church entities, and, in some cases, affiliated organizations like the Boy Scouts.
• Protecting your privacy throughout the process. Most states allow survivors of sexual abuse to file under a pseudonym, with the survivor’s real identity protected from public records.
• Coordinating with mental health and medical professionals. Cases often involve outside evaluation to document the trauma’s impact and substantiate damages.
• Navigating settlement processes when they apply. When private settlement options are available, your attorney evaluates whether participating serves your interests and negotiates the terms.
• Trying the case if settlement isn’t possible. Not every case settles. When trial is the right path, the work to prepare effectively begins months in advance.

Your Privacy in an LDS Abuse Case

Privacy is an understandable concern for survivors considering legal action. Several layers of protection are typically available:

Pseudonymous Filing

Most states allow sexual abuse plaintiffs to file under “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” so that court records don’t expose the survivor’s name.

Sealed Records

Courts often allow sensitive records, including medical and therapy records, to be filed under seal so they don’t become part of the public file.

Confidential Settlements

Settlement agreements typically include confidentiality terms that protect both the amount and the survivor’s identity.

Attorney-Client Privilege

Conversations between you and your attorney are protected. Anything you share during a consultation, whether or not you decide to pursue a claim, stays confidential.

Resources for Survivors

If you’re considering legal action, you may also need other forms of support. These resources offer free, confidential support:

• RAINN: National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Online chat at rainn.org.
• Childhelp: National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-422-4453, available 24/7 for survivors of any age. childhelphotline.org
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center: Information and referrals to local support services. nsvrc.org
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, 24/7 mental health crisis support.

Talk to an LDS Sexual Abuse Attorney at Shaheen & Gordon

Coming forward about abuse is rarely easy, and there’s no requirement that you decide anything during a consultation. A confidential conversation is simply a way to learn what options exist and what the law in your state allows. We can speak with survivors regardless of where the abuse occurred, and we’ll explain whether your case is one we’d handle directly or one we’d refer to or coordinate with co-counsel.

Call (800) 451-1002 or contact us online to speak with an attorney. Consultations are free and confidential, and there’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a claim if the abuse happened decades ago?

In many states, yes. Look-back windows and extended statutes of limitations have opened the door for survivors of older abuse to pursue civil claims. Whether or not your specific case is viable depends on the state where the abuse occurred and the timing.

Will my name become public if I file?

Not necessarily. Most states allow survivors of sexual abuse to file under a pseudonym, with their real identity protected from court records. Confidentiality terms in settlement agreements add another layer of privacy.

Do I need a police report to file a civil lawsuit?

No. Civil claims and criminal cases are separate processes. A civil case can proceed based on other forms of evidence, including therapy records, witness statements, and the survivor’s own testimony.

What if the abuser has died?

Civil claims can often proceed against the abuser’s estate and against any institution whose negligence contributed to the abuse, even when the individual abuser is no longer living.

Will I have to testify in court?

Most civil cases settle without going to trial. If a case does proceed to trial, your attorney prepares you carefully, and many privacy protections (closed courtrooms, sealed records, pseudonymous filings) are typically available.

Why is it common for survivors not to come forward for years or decades?

There are many reasons survivors of childhood sexual abuse don’t speak up right away. Shame, fear, religious pressure, family loyalty, and the simple difficulty of understanding what happened all play a role. Children who are abused by trusted adults often spend years trying to process what happened before they can talk about it. Some survivors don’t fully recognize the harm until they’re well into adulthood. But the law in many states accounts for this through “discovery rule” provisions that don’t start the filing clock until the survivor reasonably knew the abuse caused them harm.