Los Angeles Domestic Violence Attorney

Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence, Physical & Sexual Abuse

Domestic violence, all would agree, is far too prevalent in our society. On average, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) estimates 20 people are abused per minute by an intimate partner in our country. Over the course of 1 year, this equates to over 10 million women and men.

Why Should I Hire a Los Angeles Domestic Violence Attorney?

Hiring an experienced domestic violence lawyer is especially helpful because:

• Our domestic violence lawyers bring years of knowledge to the table.
• Our experience and understanding of the law can increase the odds of a favorable final outcome with these types of charges.
• Our Los Angeles domestic violence attorneys want to help you through this especially difficult time. Contact us today for skilled legal counsel.

What Is Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is not only physical assault and abuse.

Domestic violence can take many forms, including:

• Social abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Bullying over social media
• Violent or threatening behavior
• Stalking, threats, and/or intimidation
• The destruction of personal property
• Unwelcome phone calls, text messages, and/or emails

Statistics on Domestic Violence in Los Angeles

Victims of domestic violence are both men and women. The NCADV states that 1 in 4 men and 1 in 3 women have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner, with women between the ages of 18 to 24 being the most commonly abused.

What Should I Do if I am a Victim of Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is something which may escalate from threats and verbal abuse to violent actions that affect your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Those in the United States can seek immediate help by reaching out and calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). It is also a good idea to file for a “protective” or “restraining order” to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Who a Restraining Order Can Be Issued Against

A domestic violence victim is regarded under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA) as a “protected person.” Anyone seeking a DVPA remedy as a “protected person” must fall under one of the following categories:

1. Spouse: This includes current and former spouses
2. Cohabitant: This includes current and former cohabitants. A cohabitant is someone who regularly or formerly regularly resided in the household
3. Dating or engagement relationship: This is a person with whom the alleged perpetrator/respondent is having or has had a “dating or engagement relationship”
4. Co-parent: This is someone with whom the alleged perpetrator/respondent has had a child and where the male parent is presumed to be the father of the child of the female parent pursuant to the Uniform Parentage Act
5. Child: This is the child of a party or a child who is subject of a Uniform Parentage Act Action
6. Blood relative: Any person who is related by lineage or affinity within the second degree

How to File a Restraining Order

If a person in Los Angeles wishes to apply for a restraining order, they must:

• 1 . Go to the nearest Superior Court and fill out the applicable paperwork.
• 2. A court hearing will be set up in order for the judge to determine whether or not a temporary restraining order is necessary
• 3. If the judge decides that it is appropriate for such an order to be issued, then it can be granted on a permanent or temporary basis depending on the circumstances of the case.

It should also be noted that there may be additional steps involved which vary depending on individual cases, which is why it is strongly recommended to seek legal counsel from an experienced domestic violence lawyer.

Domestic Violence Services Available to Victims

There are a variety of domestic violence services available to victims based on their unique situation:

• Temporary and permanent domestic violence restraining orders: These orders tell an abuser to stop the abuse or else they face serious legal consequences
• Civil harassment restraining order: These orders are issued to protect people from stalking, serious harassment, threats of violence, and assaults
• Criminal protective orders: These orders are designed to protect witnesses or victims of a crime by disallowing the restrained person from going near or making contact with the other person
• Elder and dependent abuse restraining order: This order applies to those who are defined as being an elder or dependent, and who are a victim or physical abuse, financial abuse, abandonment, neglect, isolation, and mental abuse
• Enforcing out-of-state restraining orders: Out-of-state restraining orders will be enforced in California if the order meets certain requirements
• Restraining order enforcement: Law enforcement agencies and courts must enforce domestic violence protection orders

What Purpose Does a Restraining Order Serve?

Restraining orders are court orders that can order a restrained person to:

• Not have a gun
• Pay certain bills
• Pay child support
• Pay spousal/partner support
• Release or return certain property
• Follow child support and visitation orders
• Not make any changes to insurance policies
• Move out of your house (even if you live together)
• Not be near your home, work, or the school your children attend
• Not contact you or be near you, your children, other relatives, pets, or those who live with you
• Not incur significant expenses or do anything which may affect your or the other person’s property if you are married or domestic partners

Call Our Domestic Violence Attorney in Los Angeles for a Free Consultation Now

Lavinsky Law is located in Los Angeles, California and provides strong legal counsel to those living in Los Angeles County. We have helped individuals dealing with domestic violence and other family law issues return to healthy, rewarding lives by aggressively protecting the rights of our clients as well as by obtaining favorable results through litigation and mediation.