According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe domestic violence from an intimate partner.
This pervasive family violence can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, stalking, intimidation and even murder.
Equally heartbreaking is the exposure of children to family violence – 1 in 15 children are exposed to this type of domestic violence at home, with nearly 90% of those children witnessing it firsthand.
The Family Violence Attorneys at Canton-Based Speights Law Can Help You Find Safety, Peace and Justice
Such exposures can lead to increased incidences of anxiety, depression, aggressive behavior, health issues and drug and alcohol abuse among children.
Children who grow up in homes where family violence is common are also at increased risk of succumbing to patterns of abuse themselves.
And of course, children are often the victims of family violence.
Children in homes with family violence are physically abused or neglected at a rate of 15 times the national average.
What those statistics mean is that if you find yourself experiencing family violence, intimate partner violence or domestic abuse, it is very important to seek help quickly.
Getting out of an abusive situation can help you save yourself, your children and other members of your family from serious harm.
What to Do If You Experience Family Violence
The first thing you should do if you or a family member are the victim of domestic abuse is to call the police if you are in immediate danger.
If you need access to resources and support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit their website here.
Once you have secured your safety and gotten the information and help you need, calling a family violence attorney is the next step.
A family lawyer with experience in domestic violence can help you take the necessary legal steps to free yourself and your children from the grips of an abuser.
The Speights Law team of family violence attorneys has extensive experience with domestic violence situations and all the legal ramifications of abuse.
Our firm is home to some of the best legal minds in Cherokee County, and our aggressive litigators will work tirelessly to protect you and bring your abuser to justice.
Types of Family Violence
Family violence can take on many forms. Domestic abusers don’t usually just stop with occasional physical abuse—they often escalate to more and more violent interactions and to controlling behaviors that can have far-reaching effects.
Forms of Family Violence and Abuse:
- Physical abuse: Physical assault, battery and the threat of violence for purposes of control.
- Sexual abuse: Includes all types of sexual assault as well as things like revenge porn and sexual shaming.
- Psychological abuse: Humiliation, shaming, stalking, gaslighting, verbal abuse, controlling behaviors.
- Economic abuse: Interfering with work, theft of cash or property, coerced debt, refusing to pay child costs.
- Child Abuse: Any type of physical or psychological abuse or neglect of a child, including kidnapping.
- Pet Abuse: Violence or threats against pets is common for abusers, both as a violent tendency and as a means of control.
Why Do I Need A Family Violence Attorney?
Nearly all forms of family violence are against the law in Georgia, including most of the abuses listed above.
Although some may be easier to prove in a court of law than others, the vast majority of these are crimes that can and should be prosecuted in court.
Many people think getting that physically getting away from an abuser is enough, but in most cases, it unfortunately is not.
Abusers can still continue to stalk, harass and threaten—and worse—unless they are actually stopped from doing so.
This is where power of the law comes in, and it is why one of the most important steps in breaking the cycle of abuse is bringing criminal charges and seeking legal redress where appropriate.
Seeking the right legal remedies for family violence can help keep your abuser away from your family and give you the emotional, physical and economic freedom you need to begin again.
An attorney experienced with family violence can help you determine what legal remedies may be available to you in a situation of abuse.
An experienced domestic abuse lawyer can help you get exactly what you need to be safe from your abuser—whether that’s a restraining order, court-ordered access to family funds, legal charges filed, gun rights revoked, defense against retaliatory legal action, a divorce or something else.
A family violence lawyer may also be able to help you sue your abuser for medical costs, stolen property, lost wages. and damages for physical or emotional pain and suffering.
They can also help you get any back child support or other financial support you may be owed.
Who Needs a Family Violence Attorney?
Anyone who has experienced any of the Forms of Family Violence described above should consult a family violence attorney after seeking safety.
While most people picture a battered woman when they think of domestic violence, we now recognize that there are many other victims of family violence, too.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) can be perpetrated on men as well as women—and on both married and unmarried partners, including former partners, as well.
In addition, family violence victims can include:
- Children
- Stepchildren or stepparents
- Foster children or parents
- Elders, including parents and grandparents
- Any other members of the household or close family
- Those who are dating but do not live with their abuser
The fact is that anyone can be a victim of family violence, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or social class.
Domestic abuse is just as common for those of means as for those in lower income brackets, and it occurs across all socioeconomic, geographic, racial and religious groups.
Don’t assume that what you are going through is normal or just a passing phase—domestic violence doesn’t just go away, and it usually only gets worse.
The Attorneys for Victims of Domestic Violence in Canton
Speights Law is dedicated to seeking justice and securing safety for the victims of family violence in Cherokee County.
If you believe you or a loved one has experienced domestic abuse, don’t hesitate to contact us, ask questions, and get the necessary help.
Call us at (770) 479-1500 for a confidential consultation today.
Amanda Speights is a co-founder and lead family law attorney at Speights Law, PC in Cherokee County. She is an experienced family law lawyer who handles an assortment of domestic cases, including divorce, child custody, child support, appeals and other types of litigation in the state of Georgia. To contact Amanda, please visit our contact page.