Families suffering from domestic violence have options to seek safety, and our lawyers can help. Remember that you have legal rights. We can file a restraining order to keep you and your children safe and can handle the entire legal process as well.
At the Aberdeen Law Firm, our restraining order lawyers can advocate for you and your family. Together, we can explore both immediate and long-term solutions, including temporary and permanent restraining orders.
Signs of Domestic Abuse that Can Warrant a Restraining Order
Survivors of domestic violence and other forms of abuse often look back and wonder why they didn’t act sooner. However, the nature of abuse involves manipulation, and instances of abuse can start small and escalate over time. If you notice your partner inflicting any of the following signs of domestic abuse, seek help as soon as possible:
- Threatening you with physical force or weapons
- Controlling your eating and sleeping habits
- Preventing you from contacting emergency services, including emergency medical services or law enforcement officers
- Forcing drugs or alcohol on you
- Preventing you from leaving your home
- Preventing access to necessary medical treatment
Sometimes, minor children are the direct targets of domestic abuse. Sadly, children are often reluctant to report such abuse because they have a reasonable fear of retaliation, or do not understand what they are experiencing. Talk to your child about how other family members treat them and explain what is appropriate and what is not. Be on the lookout for telltale signs of abuse from your child, such as slipping grades, issues sleeping, or physical injuries.
Factors Involved in a Restraining Order
Restraining orders can have great implications on a variety of factors, including:
- Property
- Child custody
- Child support
Our restraining order lawyers can help you address each of these concerns, but our first priority is to get you safe.
Each State Has Its Own Laws Regarding Restraining Orders
Family law can be complex, and different states have separate procedures for filing a restraining order. Our legal team can help you make sense of your state’s laws and guide you through the application process.
Typically, the court grants restraining orders to help families avoid domestic violence. Such court-issued orders can prevent an abuser from living in the household, contacting you or your children, or coming close to you or your children outside of the home.
In any state, it can take time to finalize a restraining order, but you may have the option to seek an “ex parte domestic violence order of protection” in an emergency situation. This way, the other party does not have to be contacted or involved in the restraining order process. However, this particular order may be temporary. In a hearing, the court would give the other party a chance to respond so that it can determine whether the restraining order should continue.
Resources You Can Access After Filing a Restraining Order
There are national resources for domestic violence survivors, and we encourage you to explore these options along with filing a restraining order. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers a wealth of information and local resources that can help families seek temporary housing and access to everyday necessities.
Remember, it’s never too early to reach out for help. You may also be able to access a licensed therapist who can help you and your children heal after emotional abuse and physical abuse. It’s important to take your mental health seriously after experiencing domestic violence since it can have serious psychological effects. The American Psychiatric Association notes that people who experience domestic violence can develop emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and even suicidal tendencies.
After Filing a Restraining Order, Our Lawyers Can Help With Other Family Law Matters
Once you and your children are safe, our legal team can help with other family law matters so you can continue to stay safe. For example, we can help you file for divorce or legal separation if this is something that your state recognizes.
Other legal matters arise with these options, such as division of marital property, child custody agreements, and child support orders. You may even live in a state that requires alimony, which are payments made from one spouse to another to maintain their standard of living.
Usually, these matters require a court to intervene and order a family member to comply. If they fail to, we can also help you take them back to family court. They may have to attend a hearing and explain their circumstances, at which point a judge can modify an agreement or enforce one.
Restraining Orders Can Help End Domestic Violence
No family deserves to suffer the negative consequences that come with domestic violence. You deserve safety, and our legal team is here to help you. A restraining order may seem like the final step, but you should act immediately if abuse begins in the home.
Typically, domestic abuse may not even start with physical violence but rather escalate to it. At this point, you may feel like taking legal action will only fuel the fire, but it may be the thing that saves your life. If a romantic partner or family member violates a restraining order, certain states have consequences, such as criminal charges, jail time, and fees.
Call The Aberdeen Law Firm for Help Filing a Restraining Order
At the Aberdeen Law Firm, our restraining order lawyers want to help you and your family be safe. This starts with you reaching out to us to discuss your legal options. Don’t be afraid to seek emergency help if necessary. After that, we can file a restraining order following your state’s laws and seek more long-term solutions to your family’s needs.
Help is only a call away. Call our law office or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation, and we can begin working on your case immediately.