Altamonte Springs Domestic Violence Attorney
Family Lawyer in Altamonte Springs, Florida Assisting with Domestic Violence Cases
Family or domestic violence should never happen, yet Florida law has options for protecting those who are vulnerable. If you are dealing with domestic violence at home or at the hands of a former spouse or partner, it is critical to speak with an Altamonte Springs domestic violence attorney who can help you to protect yourself and your family. You may be eligible to seek a domestic violence injunction to keep yourself and your family safe.
What is Domestic Violence in Altamonte Springs?
Florida law specifically defines domestic violence as “any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.”
In other words, whenever a family or household member perpetrates any act of violence against another family or household member, it may be possible to take steps to stop the domestic violence and to prevent the party from engaging in any future acts of domestic violence.
What is a Family or Household Member?
While there are options to prevent violence perpetrated by a stranger or a casual acquaintance, it is important to understand that Florida’s domestic violence remedies only apply to violence committed by a family or household member against another family or household member. It should be relatively clear who counts as a family member (from direct blood relatives to stepparents, step-siblings, and others), but who counts as a household member? The Florida Statutes define a “family or household member” to include all of the following:
- Spouse;
- Former spouse;
- Any person related by blood;
- Any person related by marriage;
- People living together presently as a family;
- People who have lived or resided together in the past as a family; and
- People who have a child in common (regardless of whether those people have ever been married).
Seeking a Domestic Violence Injunction in Altamonte Springs
When you are facing domestic violence, you may be able to file a petition for injunction for protection against domestic violence. If the violence involves another family or household member, you can seek an injunction if you have already been a victim of domestic violence or you are in fear of imminent danger of being a victim of domestic violence. When you file a petition, you will need to explain what acts the accused has committed, such as:
- Threats to commit domestic violence, including acts that would constitute assault, batter, or other criminal offenses that could result in physical injury;
- Previous acts of domestic violence, such as assault, battery, stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or another criminal offense that resulted in physical injury;
- Previous acts of stalking or threats to stalk;
- Attempts to harm a person close to you;
- Threats to kidnap or harm your children;
- Threats concerning the use of deadly weapons, such as a firearm or a knife; or
- Previous harm of family pets.
Learn More from an Altamonte Springs Domestic Violence Attorney
If you need help seeking an injunction, one of our Altamonte Springs domestic violence attorneys can help. Contact the Troum Law Firm, P.A. today.
