You may already know this, but it bears repeating — anyone can be victimized by domestic violence. This includes wives, husbands, children, parents and anyone else in a domestic relationship with an abuser. Survivors of domestic violence often want to escape their situation, but they may be afraid to take action or may simply not know how to find help.
In virtually all Minnesota locations, government and non-profit organizations offer aid to victims. What many people do not understand is that a family law attorney can also play a variety of roles to helping the survivors seek justice.
One of the main benefits of working with a lawyer is the help that’s readily available. The following sections highlight a few of the important ways an attorney can assist domestic violence survivors as they pursue justice.
- Getting protective or restraining orders in place fast to shield victims from violence
- Initiating divorce proceedings if the victim is married to the abuser
- Keeping distance between the victim and the abuser by taking over the task of communicating with the opposing side
- Providing assistance to one parent seeking custody of any minor children involved in the situation
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit for domestic violence against the alleged abuser
One other very important role a lawyer fills in the lives of domestic violence survivors is remaining an advocate and strong source of support throughout the quest for justice. A Minnesota family law attorney can also help you identify potential support services that you might access to ensure that you and your children remain safe from harm.
Source: FindLaw, “5 Things a Domestic Violence Lawyer Can Do (That You Probably Can’t),” accessed Sep. 21, 2017
