Family violence lawyers assist victims of domestic abuse in obtaining restraining orders and often filing lawsuits to recover damages for medical costs and lost income.
A lawyer experienced in family law can also assist with child custody and visitation modifications if you fear your abuser may attempt to contact your children or make threats of violence against them.
Orders of Protection
When someone abuses you or a member of your family, you have the legal right to file for Order of Protection. This legal remedy can be used in both Criminal and Family Courts as a safeguard against abusers.
An order of protection can prevent the abuser from approaching you, contacting you, visiting with you or communicating with your children. It may also require them to leave your home or resign from their job.
Criminal and Family Courts both offer orders of protection, but it’s best to consult a family violence lawyer before filing. They can advise you on the appropriate steps for your situation and craft your petition so that it has the highest chance of being granted by a judge.
Are you uncertain how to obtain an order of protection? For family violence lawyers at Family First Law Group, our team of experienced family violence attorneys is ready to answer your queries, file the necessary paperwork and represent you in court for a successful outcome.
Criminal Domestic Abuse
Domestic violence is a serious offense that can have an immense effect on your life. You could spend time in jail, lose your job, have all of your property seized, be denied custody and visitation rights for children, be excluded from home and even have your reputation stained by the incident. It’s not only financially draining but it also physically damaging to yourself as well.
A family violence lawyer can guide you through the criminal justice system. Additionally, they may assist in civil cases involving orders of protection.
Domestic violence refers to a group of crimes such as sexual assault, stalking and child abuse that can be committed against household members, intimate partners or blood relatives like parents or siblings.
Domestic violence charges may be classified as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the circumstances. Conviction for a misdemeanor could mean up to one year in jail, while felony convictions result in prison sentences that may last one or more years.
Concurrent Jurisdiction
In the United States, courts have exclusive jurisdiction over a range of cases. These include those involving federal property, offenses committed by members of Indian tribes and claims under the Jones Act for damages.
Family violence lawyers can use concurrent jurisdiction to assist victims of domestic abuse and their children in accessing protection and prosecutorial resources. Victims may bring civil actions in family court as well as criminal charges in criminal court.
Case management (one judge hearing all family law and child protection applications from first appearance through settlement conferencing) is often recommended to help ensure effective resolution of cases. This approach reduces the risk of litigation abuse by guaranteeing both family law and child protection applications are heard by one judge, eliminating conflicts between two courts and missing information that could adversely impact assessing child risk.
Public Records
Are you searching for information about your abuser or curious to understand government actions and policies, public records can be invaluable resources. These records are the documents kept by state, local and federal governments to carry out business operations.
Important records that must be preserved include vital certificates (birth and death certificates, marriage/divorce licenses), criminal records, court records, tax and property records, reports on publicly-traded companies and FOIA or FOIL-able documents related to federal, state and local government operations.
Some types of public records can be accessed without charge, while others require payment depending on your state and jurisdiction.
As a family violence attorney, you will utilize public records in the course of your legal work to safeguard your clients’ rights and liberties. Furthermore, as with most things in life, knowing how to request these documents from government agencies can be daunting; some are available electronically while others must be requested via postal mail with associated costs.
