Regardless of where you live or how old you are there is a risk that you could be a victim of domestic violence. This isn’t a pleasant opening for a blog but the topic isn’t a pleasant one in and of itself.
The unfortunate truth is that while there are resources available to victims of domestic violence the best reaction of surviving an incident of domestic violence is to seek safety for yourself and your loved ones.
The fact that it is domestic violence means that the perpetrator is a person that has an intimate knowledge of you which makes the crime even worse.
How do the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC advise clients to handle themselves after an incident of domestic violence? In conjunction with filing for divorce, the steps a survivor takes can impact their futures dramatically.
Domestic Violence and Divorce in Texas
Divorces are stressful enough as it is, but when you have been through the trauma and hardship that is associated with domestic violence the situation becomes much more tedious. When a spouse is abusive towards you the violence is often an extension of a feeling that the abuser must always be in control of you. The violence is a symptom of the need for control.
A victim of domestic violence understandably feels like they have no means of escape and no outlets to alert the authorities. The sad truth is that there is always opportunity to speak out against domestic violence- the mental control that an abuser exerts over his or her victim can blind the victim to this truth, however.
Divorce can be the first positive step towards protecting yourself against domestic violence. It’s not as if filing for divorce is an immediate cure for what is happened but it shows progress in terms of the mental state of the person who was previously victimized.
A former client of the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC who was a repeated victim of domestic violence sought solace in her close friends and parents before coming to our office for assistance. Our lawyers were able to help locate a women’s shelter as a last resort in case she needed a safe place to stay after having her husband served with divorce papers.
In filing for divorce, a temporary restraining order was applied for and signed by the judge of her Court that ensured that her spouse could not harm her or her property without incurring a punishment set forth by the judge. These are immediate benefits of filing for divorce after being victim to an incident of domestic violence.
How are Children affected by Domestic Violence?
Even if the children of a marriage are not physically victimized by the incident(s) of domestic violence the effect on them can be far reaching. Studies have shown that girls who witness domestic violence growing up are more likely to becoming romantically involved with men who are themselves domestic abusers.
By the same token, young boys who witness domestic violence in the home are more likely to become abusers themselves. The cycle of abuse is therefore prolonged and their family tree risks leaning towards the side of abuse permanently unless something is done to nip this in the bud.
By filing for divorce, a request that the court issue an order related to conservatorship of the children can be made which protects the children from being exposed to the abuser-parent in anything but a supervised setting. Courts consider the best interests of the child when creating orders that affect them.
If a judge feels like one parent is a risk to the children’s physical or emotional wellbeing then they will most likely do whatever they can within reason to limit that parent’s possession and access to the children.
How to Spot signs of Abuse
Domestic abuse not only covers physical violence but also emotional abuse brought on by words of one spouse used against the other to cause harm and exert control. Verbal abuse is even harder for a person outside the marriage to identify.
A prospective client spoke to one of the Houston divorce attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC recently about how her husband did everything he could to appear to be the “good husband” in public. Behind closed doors, however, he would let loose with verbal tirades against the prospective client questioning her faithfulness among other things.
The general purpose of the husband’s words appeared to be to cause his spouse to believe that she had no value except through her marriage to him. Again, control is a huge motivational factor for abusive spouses.
Identifying signs of emotional abuse can be difficult, but if you suspect abuse of any sort is occurring look out for this type of behavior. Other telltale signs are one spouse limiting the time the other spouse may spend with friends or family as well as reports of the spouse making threats about removing the children from the home and taking them somewhere outside the knowledge of the other spouse.
Learning how to identify the signs of abuse, even when they are not obvious, is important both for the victim-spouse and for friends and other allies of a spouse who may be getting victimized.
The attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC- advocates for domestic violence survivors
Proceeding through a divorce as a domestic violence survivor certainly isn’t an ideal situation but it be overcome. Having experienced and empathetic advocates on your side whom you can trust and confide in is absolutely essential to being successful, however. The attorneys and counselors of law with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC offer a balanced perspective on cases.
Our Houston divorce lawyers understand the importance of strong in court advocacy, but at the same time take seriously our commitment to being available to our clients to discuss their difficulties and the questions that are part of them.
To find out more about how the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC can assist you and your family please contact our office of a free of charge consultation with one of our attorneys.
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Other Articles you may be interested in:
- The Complete Beginner's Guide to Texas Protective Orders
- Divorcing from an Abusive Spouse in Texas: What you Need to Know
- 5 Things You Need to Know About Family Violence in Texas
- Common Law Marriage and Texas Divorce Guide
- I Want a Texas Divorce but My Husband Doesn't: What can I do?
- Am I Married? - Marital Status in Texas
- Can I sue my spouse's mistress in Texas?
- When is, Cheating Considered Adultery in a Texas Divorce?
- 6 things You Need to Know Before You File for Divorce in Texas
- 6 Tips - On How to prepare for a Texas Divorce
Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Houston, Texas Divorce Lawyers
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding divorce, it's important to speak with one of our Houston, TX Divorce Lawyers right away to protect your rights.
Our divorce lawyers in Houston TX are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC handles Divorce cases in Houston, Texas, Cypress, Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County and Waller County.
