Survivors of domestic violence often need help with a variety of legal issues that can affect their safety, housing, employment, custody, and immigration status. These issues can be daunting and require significant emotional and financial resources to overcome.
Fortunately, there are many resources and options for seeking help with these matters. These include local and national hotlines, counseling services, support groups, and legal assistance programs.
Having an attorney represent you in civil court proceedings is important if you are a survivor of domestic violence. A Miami attorney who is specializing in domestic violence cases can advise you on your rights and protect your interests, and can make sure that you are treated with respect and dignity in the legal process.
If you are unable to afford an attorney, there are many organizations that provide free or low-cost legal representation for victims of domestic violence in state and federal courtrooms across the country. These attorneys can assist you with a number of legal matters, including obtaining or enforcing a protection order, establishing parental responsibility, and negotiating settlements in divorces or other family law cases.
A DV restraining order is a form of protection from an abuser that tells the abuser to stop contacting or visiting you or to stay away from your home or workplace. A restraining order can be obtained through the police or a judge in a civil court.
The court must find that you are a victim of domestic violence, and that you have a reasonable fear of future harm to yourself or someone else. If you are unsure whether or not you qualify for a restraining order, call a reputable hotline such as SafeLink, which is a statewide domestic violence hotline that can connect you to local resources based on your specific needs.
Some shelters, law enforcement agencies, and courthouses have volunteer companions who can accompany victims to court in some states. These advocates can be attorneys, law students, or other professionals who are trained to work with victims of domestic violence and other criminal offenses.
Advocates without a legal background can also advocate on behalf of survivors, helping them navigate the legal system and helping them prepare for their court dates. In addition, they can provide counseling to survivors, assisting them in processing their experiences and emotions, healing from trauma, and developing coping strategies.
Volunteers can also serve as mentors to attorneys in their field of study, providing them with information on domestic violence and other criminal issues that may impact the cases they are working on. In some jurisdictions, law schools have student legal advocacy clinics that offer free representation to survivors of domestic violence.
Davis and Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC offers legal aid and representation to survivors of domestic violence in all areas of family law and domestic violence cases, including obtaining and enforcing restraining orders. Davis and Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC; divorce lawyer in Miami also provide advice and referrals for survivors of domestic violence regarding their legal rights, navigating the criminal justice system, and navigating the social and financial impacts of domestic violence.
