Legal Remedies to Spousal Abuse

Many married individuals in the United States suffer abuse each day. Unfortunately, many individuals do nothing to stop the abuse because they feel powerful and unable to do so. However, this is not the case; there is always a way for an individual to better his or her situation.

More specifically, individuals have a number of legal methods for ending spousal abuse. Two of the most common methods of accomplishing this are pressing charges and filing restraining orders.

When an individual presses charges, he or she will first need to have the abusive spouse arrested. Individuals can accomplish this by calling law enforcement and reporting instances of abuse. These individuals will likely be taken into custody, and the victim can press charges.

Pressing charges means that the abusive spouse will face criminal domestic violence charges. The individual may be ordered to complete anger management or may be sentenced to jail time and fines if found guilty.

The second method, filing a restraining order, may be the easier route. When an individual files for a restraining order, he or she usually does not need much evidence to have the order issued. If the order is issued, then the restrained individual is prohibited from coming within a certain distance of the filer.

Individuals who file these orders are responsible for upholding them. That is, they must report individuals when they break the terms of the restraining order.

Both of these methods are easier to execute when an individual has first spoken with an experienced lawyer. A lawyer can help individuals understand their legal options better so that the individual follows through with the best course of action in his or her case.

If you or someone you love is the victim of spousal abuse, discuss your case with the Fort Lauderdale domestic violence attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A., to learn about what you can do to stop it.