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Protect Your Family with The Help of A Domestic Violence Lawyer

The decision to end a relationship with an abusive partner is made all the more difficult when you have to worry about your safety or your children’s well-being. A domestic violence lawyer at McKinley, Conger, Jolley & Galarneau, LLP, can help put measures in place to ensure you remain safe.

Abuse by a Partner

We know this can be frightening for victims, but calling the authorities is an important step in getting help. Keep track of the incident or report number given to you by the police. If necessary, get medical attention. If it is not safe for you and your children to stay in your home, get to a safe place as quickly as possible. This may include a shelter for victims of domestic violence or the home of a trusted family member or friend.

Our team can help you obtain various types of restraining orders to prevent your abuser from making contact with you and your children. With the help of an attorney, you will not be alone in the process. You will have an advocate on your side.

Child abuse is a form of domestic violence. If the safety of your children is at risk, we can help you take measures that keep an abusive party away. If you decide that a divorce or separation is in your family’s best interests, a lawyer can help you arrange custodysupport, and visitation agreements.

Types of Abuse Classified as Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is classified by a pattern of abusive behavior inflicted by one partner onto another. This form of violence can manifest itself in several ways, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse. It often leaves victims feeling powerless, frightened, and overwhelmed. 

Domestic violence can include:

  • Physical Abuse: This can including hitting, kicking, biting, cutting, and other types of physical harm inflicted upon the victim. Denial of medical treatment or forceful ingestion of drugs or alcohol is also considered a form of physical abuse.
  • Emotional Abuse: This type of abuse diminishes a victim’s self-worth, self-esteem, trust in others, and security. It can manifest as constant criticism or name-calling.
  • Economic Abuse: In the case of economic abuse, the abuser has control over all financial aspects of the victim’s life. The abuser may prevent the victim from attending school, working, or generally supporting themselves.
  • Psychological Abuse: When an abuser attempts to intimidate the victim through bullying, humiliation, or verbal abuse, they are psychologically abusing the victim. This type of abuse can also include attempts to isolate the victim from family and friends.
  • Sexual Abuse: Sexual harassment, assault, and rape all constitute forms of sexual abuse.
    Stalking: Calling or sending messages repeatedly is considered stalking, as is following an individual to or from work or school.
  • Cyberstalking: Continuous emails, online messages, or other forms of online harassment are classified as cyberstalking.
  • Dating Violence: Dating violence is committed by an abuser in a romantic relationship with the victim. It can involve verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Victims are not limited to any gender, age, race, or sexual orientation. It is important to note that abuse against children or other family members is classified as domestic violence, as is abuse between cohabiting and non-cohabiting partners.

Who Can Obtain a Restraining Order?

In the most general sense, a restraining order prevents an abuser from making contact with the victim. It can also prohibit contact with children and the victim’s friends and family. There are three types of restraining orders:

  • Emergency Protective Orders (EPOs) are issued by police when the victim cannot file a restraining order petition right away, usually, because court is not in session or the victim is in imminent danger. These are typically only effective for five business days.
  • Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) are also a form of emergency protection. They are typically issued and remain in effect until a formal hearing is held and a judge makes a final ruling.
  • Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) is a restraining order that takes effect after a hearing is held and a judge has made an official ruling. This type of restraining order typically remains in effect for several years.

Any victim of repeated domestic abuse can obtain a restraining order. This includes current or former spouses, cohabitants in an intimate relationship, and non-cohabitants in an intimate relationship.

Domestic violence is a complicated matter, considering it takes many forms. However, our team understands the sensitive, ambiguous, and highly challenging nature of such cases. We can provide the support and compassion you need to recover and protect yourself and your family.

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