October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and it is important for Boston residents to understand that a large percentage of people will be the victim of domestic violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than one in three women and one in four men will be the victim of intimate partner abuse in their lifetime. Although there are many organizations set up to help victims of domestic violence, an attorney may also be a good resource.
Get a protection order in place
There are three types of abuse protection orders in Massachusetts. One is an emergency order which can last until the next court business day and is designed to protect a victim who is in immediate danger. A temporary order lasts 10 days or until there is a full court hearing. The third type of protection order is a final abuse protection order which can be one year or even permanent. A protection order can prohibit the abuser from making contact with the abused or coming within a certain distance of the victim.
File a civil lawsuit
An attorney can file a civil lawsuit against the abuser for domestic violence. The victim may be able to recover financial compensation for the abuse. An attorney can help their client file for divorce against the abuser. If the couple have children together an attorney can help their client gain custody of the children.
Communicate with the abuser
An attorney can communicate with the defendant and their attorney on behalf of their client so that their client does not need to deal with anymore abuse or conflict. An attorney can be a valuable member of a domestic abuse victim’s team. They can use the legal system to help protect the victim both now and into the future.