If you have experienced domestic violence, it is important to seek legal help. A family lawyer can represent your interests in court and help ensure that you receive the protection and support you need. Domestic violence proceedings can be complex and overwhelming, but a family lawyer can guide you through the process while also ensuring that your rights are protected. Read on to discover everything you need to know!
1. What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence happens when one intimate partner tries to dominate or control the other. Domestic violence can be physical (like slapping, punching, pushing), verbal (like name-calling or threatening), sexual (like rape), controlling (like telling someone where they can go), or emotional (like constantly insulting them). Domestic violence does not discriminate based on sex or gender; anyone with an emotional or romantic bond with the abuser could be at risk.
2. What does starting a domestic violence proceeding involve?
In general, anyone who has been abused can file a domestic violence proceeding. In most cases, people will file for a protection order if they want the court to exercise control over members of their household coming into contact with one another. For example, you can apply for a restraining order, so the abuser is prohibited from contacting you.
In order to file a domestic violence proceeding, you will need to prove that there were acts of abuse committed against you by your spouse or common-law partner. Evidence can come in many forms, including pictures of injuries taken after an incident, statements from witnesses who saw the violence take place or overheard threats being made, and testimony from doctors or counsellors confirming that you sought treatment for injuries caused by violence.
3. How can a family lawyer help during domestic violence proceedings?
A family lawyer can provide invaluable support throughout the process of filing for and contesting protection orders. They can advise you on what options are available to you, draft legal documents that will be used in your case, represent your interests in court, and represent you before different authorities if necessary (such as Child Support Services). A family lawyer can also act as an intermediary between yourself and the defendant so that you do not have contact with one another until it is deemed safe by the courts.
For more information and advice, contact a family lawyer today. They will be happy to book you in for an initial consultation about your case.
For more information, contact family lawyers near you.
