May 2018 – Abuse can take many forms

Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful experiences in life – probably second only to the death of a loved one. It is even more challenging, emotionally and legally, when there has been domestic violence in the relationship.

Abuse can take many forms. Your partner may have hurt you physically, harmed your pets, or abused your children. Your partner may have stalked you, threatened to take the children away from you, or engaged in emotional and verbal abuse towards you. Perhaps your partner has insisted upon maintaining all the power and control in the relationship and you are dependent upon them financially because they control all of the money, bank accounts and credit cards. It is incredibly difficult to separate from your partner under these circumstances.

You may be reluctant to obtain a family law attorney who will address the domestic violence issues because you fear your partner and you don’t want to relive the traumatic memories of the abuse. You could also simply be embarrassed. Regardless, you should be aware that our Family Court has many legal procedures available to help protect you.

A family law attorney experienced with domestic violence cases can help you through the difficult divorce process to insure that you, your children and your pets are safe. We can also help you receive the financial support and property you are legally entitled to under Arizona law.

To find out if you or someone you know could benefit from some of the domestic violence protections, follow us in this month’s blog series as I explore how to protect your finances in divorce if you are in an abusive relationship, how domestic violence affects the abusive partner’s parenting time, whether mediation is possible with an abuser, and protecting your pets when you separate from your abuser.

Owens & Perkins offers free 30-minute initial consultations. If you would like to schedule an appointment please call us at (480) 630-2464 or CLICK HERE to schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.