Domestic Violence Lawyers and Attorneys

This category covers attorneys who work on both sides of domestic violence matters: obtaining and enforcing protective orders for people who have been threatened or harmed, and defending people accused of domestic assault, harassment or violating an existing order.

These cases move fast and cut across areas of law. A protective order can be granted within days, and it can change where someone lives, who has the children and whether they can possess a firearm. A criminal charge and a family court case often run in parallel, and what is said in one affects the other.

Before you hire

• Ask whether the attorney handles the petitioner side, the respondent side, or both, and whether they regularly appear in the court hearing your matter.
• If children are involved, ask how the case will interact with custody. Findings made at a protective order hearing tend to follow the family for years.
• Many victim-services organisations provide free advocacy and help with filing. An attorney is still worth having for a contested hearing.

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services first; legal steps come after safety.