There are so many ways domestic violence can affect a family, and not one is positive. Domestic violence, or false allegations of it, intensifies the chaos in already troubled families. An Everett family lawyer from Dellino Family Law can help provide protection and work to calm that chaos. We will listen to you and can help develop a plan to get you through this very frightening time.
If you or your children are the victims of domestic violence, or if you have been unjustly accused of domestic violence, reach out to a domestic violence lawyer in Everett. We have decades of collective experience and put that experience to work in every case.
Domestic Violence has Devastating Consequences
No one should feel unsafe in their relationship or in their home. Domestic violence takes away that sense of safety and makes the home dangerous. Abuse can take different forms, but ultimately comes down to control.
To control partners or children, an abuser often uses physical abuse or threats of it to keep everyone “in line.” The fear of pain or of brutality being inflicted on someone else in the family helps ensure that victims will not speak out. They “protect” themselves and each other through silence.
Though harder to see as it doesn’t leave outward injury, emotional abuse is another form of domestic violence. Emotional abusers often threaten, demean, or gaslight victims. They may destroy the victim’s belongings or keep them isolated. Other times, abusers inflict sexual violence on their victims, forcing them into non-consensual acts or otherwise using sex as a weapon.
What to Do if You are the Victim of Domestic Violence
Help is available to domestic violence victims. Understanding the truth about domestic violence and taking control of your safety is the top priority. The National Domestic Violence hotline is here for you, and so is Dellino Family Law.
The Domestic Violence Counts Report, Washington Summary from National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), shows the prevalence of domestic violence in Washington State. Over a recent year and during a one-hour period, domestic violence programs helped 2,970 domestic violence victims. The needs of 482 victims went unmet due to a lack of resources.
Our team is here to meet your needs. A domestic violence attorney in Everett can be a resource for you and your family. We can help you take the steps needed to protect your family, perhaps including a restraining order against your abuser. We can help you initiate divorce proceedings. If you are divorced already and have children, we can help fight for adjustments to your parenting plan.
Child Custody Arrangements and Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is among the most common reasons why parents lose child custody. Your abuser may be your child’s biological parent, but biology doesn’t make them a safe, loving, or appropriate parent. In cases of domestic violence and/or divorce that involve children, the court’s priority is keeping children safe and serving their best interests.
In Chapter 10, Parenting Plans of the Washington Court manual, the State establishes how parenting plans must address domestic violence. The State recognizes that abuse, even if not leveled at the children but at the child’s parent, has a dangerous impact on the child’s well-being and development.
We can help draft parenting plans that do what the State demands: “protect the child and adult victim from any further violence…” A compassionate, protective Everett domestic violence lawyer from our team will do everything within our power to keep you and your children safe.
What to Do if You are Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence?
False accusations of domestic violence are less common than verifiable claims. Domestic violence is a real and widespread occurrence. Still, false accusations happen, and the reasons for them vary. Often, partners or ex-partners use the accusations as a means of revenge. They may also want to change a custody agreement and invent abuse to get a favorable decision.
Whatever the reason, the effect is the same. The victim of the false allegation is forced to prove the invalidity of the claim. An Everett domestic violence attorney can help. You can count on us to listen to you without judgment.
Some learn of the abuse accusation after being served with a protection order. Connect with our team as soon as possible after you’ve been served. We can offer immediate protection, helping you avoid making mistakes that could cause more problems. We can also give you guidance, letting you know what you should do to fight back.
What to Do and Not Do After Being Accused of Domestic Violence
Accusations of domestic violence can ruin your reputation, derail your career or employment opportunities, and destroy your relationship with your kids. Your instinct might be to confront your accuser right away. Instead, reach out to our team. Let us speak for you.
If the accuser has issued a restraining order, do not make contact. Don’t call, text, email, or use social media to initiate communication. Don’t respond to any messages the accuser sends, or a third party sends on their behalf. Sometimes, in a desperate attempt to make things right, those accused offer apologies for anything they “might have done” to cause pain. These statements can be used against you.
It makes sense to feel powerless and terrified when faced with false accusations and protection orders. We can help you understand protection orders. We want you to understand how they work, what they do, and how to defend yourself from the consequences of an unjust order, so you can get some of your power back.
Our Everett Domistic Violence Lawyers Care About Your Family
Dellino Family Law wants to keep you and your family safe. Whether we work to protect you from an abuser or from false accusations of domestic violence, we are on your side.
Trust an Everett domestic violence lawyer to handle your case with tremendous care and great skill. You have the right to feel safe in your own home and your own skin, and we are here to uphold that right.