Some people can go through their marriage with no issues, no disagreements, and no voices or hands raised. Unfortunately, for most people, that isn’t always the case. Every marriage experiences its highs and lows, and when people aren’t able to deal with the challenges of life in the right way, they often lash out in frustration, disappointment, and anger, which can easily set the stage for poor response and influence the need and desire for a divorce.
What is domestic violence?
When a couple starts to fall out of love, it is often a downward spiral filled with negative emotions, which can manifest in various ways and lead to domestic violence. Domestic violence is more than just one spouse physically abusing the other. The unpleasantness of domestic violence is a lot deeper and complicated.
It is a pattern of physical, psychological, and abusive behavior that can affect any family member regardless of their age, gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, or economic status. Depending on the severity of the abuse, they can end up with a misdemeanor or a felony.
Physical domestic abuse can be anything from grabbing, shoving, punching, scratching, throwing objects, intimidation, and even threatening your loved ones, destroying your property, disrupting sleep patterns, killing you, or sexual abuse, which can happen in any type of relationship.
Emotional or psychological abuse is behavior used to control or damage a person’s emotional health. It can be verbal or non-verbal and often manifests as name-calling, controlling your day to day life, putting your down in front of others, interrupting or ignoring you, cheating or being overly jealous, blaming your for their abusive behavior, or monitoring your phone calls, texts, location, and computer use.
How can an attorney help you with domestic violence?
Your lawyer is supposed to be your advocate. They are there to represent and fight for your interests. They can make strategic decisions, including what evidence to present or witnesses on your behalf. But, when it comes down to it, you are the only person who can decide about the settlement. Your lawyer can go into more detail about the best choices and possible outcomes. Still, if you, at any point, have concerns about how your lawyer is representing you, you can always talk to them about what they are or are not doing or choose another lawyer.
Check with domestic violence or sexual assault organizations in the city you live in for resources, including organizations that can help you pay for representation. Also, National Domestic Violence Hotline can help victims, survivors of domestic violence. Call 1-800-799-7233.