Hundreds of thousands of Californians are victims of domestic violence every year, enduring physical, sexual, or emotional abuse at the hands of someone close to them. If you or a loved one is in an abusive domestic relationship, we can help, starting with obtaining a domestic violence order or restraining order to force your abuser to stay at a safe distance.
In 2019, more than 161,000 domestic violence-related calls for assistance were made in California by people frightened by the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse inflicted by a family member or loved one. Those who can find the courage to stand up to their abuser can use the law to help protect themselves.
Although gender roles are constantly evolving and changing, when someone mentions domestic abuse, the image that often comes to mind is often a woman who is battered, bruised, and bloodied. The image of the wholesome, loving, and nurturing woman and men as the strong, protective and occasionally volatile is the idea set forth by generations before us, and is a stereotype that may be completely not what is realistic. Unfortunately, men are often the unspoken victims of domestic abuse.
Marriage is not always as easy as we hope going into it. Sometimes it is difficult and becomes a struggle to make it from one day to the next. Yet, in many marriages, it is made even more challenging if the spouse is abusive. This also makes a divorce much more troublesome. In many cases, the abused spouse is in fear; fear for their life following the presentation of divorce papers, fear for the future of how they will get by on their own, and also fear for the impact on any children involved. A dissolution of marriage involving an abusive partner can strike anxiety in even the strongest of people, yet it is extremely possible and will make a positive impact in your future.
