Queens Domestic Violence Lawyers
Domestic violence comes in many forms, and often, victims suffer in silence. Perpetrators of domestic violence may use manipulation to keep victims quiet along with the threat of more physical abuse. This can cause a victim to feel like a prisoner in his or her own home, furthering the isolation that allows domestic violence to flourish.
Domestic violence is also a common cause for divorce in the United States. This is often the end result when the person you married turns out to have a hidden side that may have gone unnoticed earlier in your relationship. Domestic violence in a marriage may also start out with verbal abuse, but in time, the abuse becomes physical instead of just mental and emotional.
Should I Divorce a Spouse Who is Abusive?
Many spouses who are in domestic violence situations find themselves wondering whether divorce is the best course of action. Because every situation is different, there’s no clear answer, but if you are suffering due to domestic violence, you are highly encouraged to reach out for help. Divorce is one option that may help you find peace in your life, but depending on the situation, seeking a divorce may bring about a new set of challenges.
Speak With a Divorce Lawyer
To get a better idea as to what legal options are available to you in separating from your abuser, it’s often recommended to partner with a divorce lawyer. He or she can provide a confidential consultation in which you can discuss the specifics of your marriage and receive answers to your questions regarding divorce. From there, your lawyer can advise you and even provide legal representation in court if you decide to pursue a divorce.
Can I Seek a Restraining Order?
If your spouse is unwilling to accept your wishes to separate, you may need to file for a restraining order against him or her. This is a legal order that provides binding terms instructing your spouse to maintain a certain distance from you and sets rules for contact. Keep in mind that you don’t have to get a divorce in order to file for a restraining order, but you might consider seeking an order if your spouse is not willing to respect your decision to seek a divorce. If you decide that a restraining order is in your best interest, your attorney can help you file the paperwork and understand the order’s terms.
Do I Need to Appear in Court?
Because of the sensitive nature of divorce as it pertains to domestic violence, your attorney will handle all legal contact with your spouse and/or your spouse’s attorney. This is done to protect you, but it’s also done to prevent emotions from running high and things taking a turn for the worse. When someone is upset over an impending divorce, he or she may say or do things that can jeopardize the decree issued by the judge. Your attorney can act as an independent buffer to keep things civil.
Your attorney will also handle most, if not all, of the courtroom proceedings if court is required. If you do need to appear in court, your divorce attorney can work with the court to keep your spouse away while you need to make an appearance.
What If My Spouse and I Have Minor Children?
Children can add an additional layer of complexity to any divorce case, but the need to bring about a peaceful resolution to your divorce is all the more important if domestic violence is involved in a marriage with children. Some abusers will use children as a means to take revenge on a spouse after a divorce, or they might try to instigate a fight by turning children against the spouse seeking a divorce.
These types of situations require delicacy because they involve the safety and well-being of small children, but they also require resolve and courage. Your attorney can provide you with options regarding the seeking of full legal and physical custody in order to protect your children. He or she can also help you navigate the challenges that may come up when dealing with family court procedures.
Contact a Divorce Attorney to Learn Your Options
As stated, every marriage is unique, but the bottom line is that you do have options available that include divorce if you want to pursue that route. Your divorce lawyer can help you make decisions that will make the process as fast and easy as possible, and it’s important for you to know that your privacy and your safety will be prioritized throughout the entire divorce process. Even if you aren’t sure that divorce is the right answer for you at the moment, if a spouse has shown a tendency toward becoming violent, now may be a good time to at least consult with a divorce attorney should his or her services be needed in the future.
Corporal Injury on a Spouse/Mate
The charge of inflicting a corporate injury on a spouse or mate claims that you have performed a violent act on someone close to you. The penalties of such a crime are severe in the state of New York. Therefore, you will want to secure the representation of a reliable, seasoned and honorable criminal defense attorney to fight on your behalf. Such attorneys can review your case and then develop a strategy to protect your integrity and reputation. You should contact the attorney as quickly as possible to maximize your protection.
The Concept of Corporal Injury
Corporal punishment is the act of inflicting physical pain on someone in the household. The crime of corporal punishment is a crime that includes hitting the other person with objects, spanking, punching, kicking, strangling or otherwise handling the person in a manner that causes him or her to suffer trauma. Any form of physical contact can result in the victim’s suffering from personal trauma.
Penalties for Corporal Injuries
The penalties that result from a conviction for a corporal injury can be embarrassing as well as reputation shattering. First, the crime itself can constitute a jail term of up to one year for a misdemeanor count and 15 years or more for a felony count. Secondly, the offender may have to pay fines. Another penalty that can occur from an act of corporal injury is that the offender may receive a restraining order that states that the person can have no contact with the victim for a set amount of time. In addition to all those penalties, the offender may also have to pay for any counseling services that the victim may receive. Furthermore, the criminal record can prevent the person from getting a job or a home of his or her choice in the future.
Defenses for a Corporal Injury Charge
Defending a case for corporal injury will be complicated. Generally, the court does not ask the victim to prove that he or she suffered from trauma because of the corporal injury. Instead, the case naturally leans against the defendant. One defense that may work in a marital situation is that the two parties were involved in consensual roughhousing. The roughhousing may have been an act of spicing up the couple’s romantic life. The defendant’s attorney may also challenge the charge completely and claim that he or she did not perform the act at all.
How an Attorney Can Assist
A reliable criminal defense attorney serves multiple purposes in this type of case. First, the person serves as a confidant and an information gatherer. The attorney can also act as a defender and protector by challenging the charges and requesting a dismissal if the police did not conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion or they missed a procedural step. The attorney will try to prove you innocent, as well. Moreover, this person will act as a negotiator if you happen to receive a guilty conviction.
Call the Best in the Area
You need to contact the best in the area for a case like this. Raiser & Kenniff is a law firm that has been defending people with similar cases for more than 30 years. Furthermore, they have much experience in the district attorney’s office. Along with their strong history and their reputation, Raiser & Kenniff can offer you an affordable and flexible payment plan. They are available to defend you in your case 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The number to schedule a consultation is 888-504-2746. You could complete an online form if you prefer to type your request instead.
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