We should be able to trust family members and intimate partners, depending on them for support and affection, not hiding from them in fear. Sadly, that trust is too often broken when one family member or partner inflicts acts of domestic violence on another, or falsely accuses a supposed loved one of committing violence.
If you are in a situation involving domestic violence, call on a Silverdale family lawyer from Dellino Family Law for help. Our firm has been serving clients since 2013. During that time, we have handled all types of complicated family legal matters. Trust a domestic violence lawyer in Silverdale for compassionate, effective representation.
A Silverdale Domestic Violence Attorney Can Help You Protect Yourself
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, it’s time to talk about protection orders. Your safety matters. Not all protection orders are the same. Our team can review your situation and help determine which specific one applies. We can offer continued support as you work through potential divorce proceedings or other family matters.
You may need a domestic violence protection order (DVPO). You can file for this order if a family or household member or intimate partner has subjected you to physical harm, sexual assault, or stalking. It applies even if the person has not literally put their hands on you, but has threatened you and given you a reason to fear for your safety.
If you have contacted authorities with reports of abuse and they have issued charges against your abuser, a Domestic Violence No Contact Order (DVNCO) may apply.
This order protects victims in criminal cases. A domestic violence attorney in Silverdale is here for you, no matter the specifics of your situation. We can help build evidence to support your request.
If You’re Served With an Order of Protection
It’s natural to feel terrified after being served with a protection order. If you have children, a protection order can affect your access to them. They carry additional damaging implications for your divorce proceedings and your life.
Unfortunately, sometimes an angry or jealous ex, or soon-to-be-ex, uses a protection order as a weapon. They make false accusations to prevent you from seeing your kids or perhaps to punish you for leaving a relationship. It’s important to fight back against this unconscionable dishonesty, but only with help from an experienced attorney.
Dellino Family Law can provide immediate guidance. Talk to us, rather than contacting your ex, no matter how much you want to demand answers or express your feelings.
We can help you understand and stay in compliance with the terms of the order and work to find evidence to challenge the credibility of your accuser’s claims. If you’re facing charges, we can direct you toward a criminal defense attorney.
Domestic Violence in Washington State
The U.S. Department of Justice report, “Domestic Relationships and Violent Crimes, 2020-2024,” presents sobering statistics. Over the five-year period, 1,109,707 people experienced domestic abuse. Of that, 11,466 people were murdered by acts of domestic violence.
According to the Domestic Violence Counts Report, Washington Summary, during a 24-hour period, responding domestic-abuse programs helped 2,970 victims. An additional 482 requests for help went unfulfilled because of a lack of resources.
These numbers show that if you are a victim of domestic violence, you are not alone. They also show that more help is needed. Our team is here to provide you with legal advocacy and compassionate support as we work to protect your safety and your interests.
How Domestic Violence Affects Children
Domestic violence is one of the most common reasons why parents lose child custody. When determining child custody arrangements, the Washington Court must assess the effects of domestic violence, as explained in Chapter 10: Parenting of a Washington Court publication.
The judge’s priority is serving the child’s best interests, per Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 26.09.002. An allegation of abuse can keep the accused from having custody or even visitation with the child. The court must consider whether further contact could lead to new patterns of abuse that put the child’s physical or emotional wellbeing in danger.
As a victim of abuse, a Silverdale domestic violence lawyer can work to develop a plan that keeps you and your child safe. If you’ve been wrongly accused, we can work to present evidence to call those accusations into question and preserve your relationship with your child.
Domestic Violence and Divorce Proceedings
Even if you don’t have children and subsequent matters of child custody to work out, domestic violence can still affect divorce proceedings. The Washington Court publication “Understanding Washington State Protection Orders and How They Can Help You” establishes that DVPOs are “tailored to individual needs.”
The protection order can:
- Remove an abuser from the shared home
- Prohibit the abuser from entering the home
- Determine who gets possession of pets, vehicles, and other essentials
- Order the abuser to treatment and counseling programs
- Prohibit an abuser from contacting the victim
- Prohibit the abuser from going to specific locations
These consequences could have ripple effects. The accused must find a place to live and take on that expense. They may have to pay for transportation. Location restrictions could affect their professional and social lives.
Divorce Mediation
Many divorcing couples reach child custody, division of property, and spousal support arrangements through mediation. Domestic violence often precludes that process, per RCW 26.09.016. This law states mediation is “generally inappropriate in cases involving domestic violence and child abuse.”
An attorney can explain what this means for your divorce case and protect your rights during the alternative process.
We Can Help You Find Solutions
Though family members and intimate partners should never cause us harm, the fact is that sometimes they do. Dellino Family Law is here to help you protect yourself and prevent that harm from continuing and affecting other parts of your life.
Connect with a Silverdale domestic violence attorney who can support you as we work to find solutions and a path to a safer future.