Scottsdale Domestic Violence Help

It’s unfortunate, but domestic violence is a real and continued threat all across the world, including in the state of Arizona and the city of Scottsdale. Around 33% of women and 25% of men are going to end up going through some sort of violent situation caused by a domestic partner in the United States. When you double those numbers—because it takes a perpetrator and a victim in these cases—you can see that a lot of people are embroiled in domestic violence. This doesn’t even factor in the children and how they are affected.

If you are involved with someone who is violent, you should get out of that relationship as soon as possible. There are serious risks to your physical safety and well-being, and it tends to just get worse as time passes.

Domestic Violence Crimes—What Qualifies?

The term domestic violence covers a lot of different types of crimes. This includes physical assault, of course, as well as battery and sexual assault. However, it also includes willful intimidation and other behaviors commonly associated with abuse. It can include threats and emotional abuse, too.

Domestic violence occurs for countless reasons, none of which are the fault of the victim. The abuser often wants to exert control and power over another person, and that person is typically their partner or other members of their family. They feel that they have the right to do this and that they won’t get in trouble.

While domestic violence often occurs between partners, it can happen to anyone who lives with an abuser. This includes the children, as well as roommates and other family members.

Getting a Protective Order

If you are a victim of abuse, one of the best things you can do to help keep safer, and to create a record of the abuse is to file a protective order. It is easy to file, but some people may want to have an attorney help them.

To file for one of these orders, you will first want to go to court to file the petition for the protective order. This could be one in a superior or municipal court. The petition will then o to a judge who will examine it and determine whether they are going to grant the order or not.

Most judges are going to grant the order, as they want to keep you safe. However, there will need to be information that the judge can look at to determine whether domestic violence has occurred and whether the order should be issued.

Some of the types of acts that are considered domestic violence and that would make it possible to get a protective order include being shoved, being hit, stalked, strangled, harassed, etc. Talk with an attorney about the types of abuse you have suffered if you aren’t sure whether you would qualify. They can let you know and help you to get the protection you need.

Gather Evidence and Keep You and Your Kids Safe

In Arizona, the courts will often want to grant both the parents equal parenting time and legal decision-making for the children. They feel that this is usually the best thing for the children. However, if you are in an abusive relationship, and you know that your ex is abusive to the kids, or that they could use them against you, then you probably won’t agree.

You will want to find evidence of abuse that you could use with the courts to prove that it’s a bad idea to let your ex have too much time with or control over the kids. The evidence might be things such as police records, medical records, or school records, for example. If you feel this is a course of action you will need to take, make sure you contact an attorney. The professionals can help you understand what you need and can give you a better idea of how your case is likely to go.

Getting Help and Staying Safe

Evidence is great, as is a court order, but it doesn’t automatically mean you will be safe from the abuses of your partner. Sometimes, you may need to have some additional help.

In some cases, you might need to find a shelter where you can stay to ensure you are safe from an abusive partner. The shelter line in Maricopa County is (480) 890-3039, and you can find domestic violence program information at (602) 542-4446.

Ideally, you will have someone in your family or friend group that you trust and that can provide you with a place to stay when you are leaving your spouse. You want to be as careful as possible when you are planning to leave. In some cases, too much planning might be risky, and it may just be better to flee and find a safe place. It all depends on the situation.

One of the things that you will likely have to deal with is a partner who apologizes and cries about wanting you back. They will tell you that they are never going to hurt you or the kids again and that everything will go back to normal.

However, we all know that “normal” means you are going to be once again subjugated to that person and in danger. Things will not usually just get better in homes where domestic violence occurs. The perpetrator needs to want to change and be willing to go to therapy. The victims need therapy, too. Even then, it doesn’t mean the abuser will change for the better. Typically, getting out of the scenario is the best solution for everyone.

Talk with an Attorney

We know that it can be a difficult and scary time in your life when you are leaving an abuser. You may find that it is helpful to have the guidance of a Scottsdale family law attorney who has experience in this field. Get in touch with the experts at Modern Law in Scottsdale today. You can connect by visiting the office at 8707 E. Vista Bonita, Suite 155 in Scottsdale, or by calling (480) 571-0346.