A Family Law Attorney Can Help You Be Safe When Leaving An Abusive Relationship

Posted on: 19 August 2015

In the US, one out of every three women will end up in an abusive relationship. About 4,000 of those women will die at the hands of their partner. The most dangerous time for a woman in an abusive relationship is when she is actively working on getting out of the relationship and getting somewhere safe. This is especially true if there are children since children will tie that woman to her partner until certain things happen. If you are a woman who is seeking to leave an abusive relationship, there are several things that you need to do to make sure that you are safe.  

Contact a Woman's Shelter

There are women's shelters that are specifically set up for women trying to get out of abusive relationships and any children they have. These shelters are generally kept as secure as possible. That means that they try to limit how many people know the phone number or location. However, if you contact the homeless shelter in your area, the police, or even the hospital, they can help you get into contact with these shelters. The shelter can help you set up a safe exit plan. They can also help you with another thing that you need to do in order to be safe, finding a lawyer.

Contact a Lawyer

There are several things that a lawyer can help you with. They include starting divorce proceedings, dealing with child custody and visitation issues, and getting orders of protection. You want to look for a lawyer who specializes in family law. Ideally, the family lawyer you choose should also work with domestic violence cases. The reason for this is that the lawyer will know what needs to be done first, and will be ready to get everything set and filed immediately. You really should get all the papers filed on the same day that you safely leave. That way you are safe, and you have done what you can to procure your future safety. They can also help get you into a shelter, if you aren't already, or help you find some other safe place.     

Gender doesn't stop a person from being in an abusive relationship, it's just that more women are in these relationships than men. However, men trying to get out of these relationships can also look for a lawyer who specializes in domestic violence cases (such as one from Leonard & Kershaw) and find somewhere safe to be. No one should have to live in a relationship where they aren't safe. There are people to help get you out of that situation. 

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