Columbia Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic Violence occurs all too frequently in our day-to-day lives.  The statistics on Domestic Violence are truly shocking and chances are there is someone you know that is also struggling with abuse in their life.  You don’t have to go through this alone as there are numerous community support and legal protections available to you. Reach out to a Columbia domestic violence lawyer today.

REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE HOUSEHOLD

If either you or your children are in danger of immediate abuse, you should take steps to remove yourself from the household.  Consider staying with a family member or friend that is in a safe location.  If you don’t have a family member or friend that can help consider a domestic violence shelter such as Rainbow House or True North.

Once you begin to think about transitioning to a more permanent arrangement, remember that there are other programs to help provide anonymity protections available to you, including Missouri’s Safe at Home program.  Safe at Home allows you to use an address registered with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office when filling out paperwork that may be easily accessible to perpetrators of abuse, stalking, etc.  Mail sent to that address is then forward to your address, which is kept confidential by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office.

If you need help finding a shelter or applying for Missouri’s Safe at Home program, contact Chris today for a free consultation.

LEGAL PROTECTIONS

Once you have ensured your immediate safety you should speak to a family lawyer as soon as possible to establish legal safeguards.  Chris can help you through the Order of Protection process.  Filing a petition for an Order of Protection will allow you to seek an immediate Ex Parte Order of Protection if there is an immediate and present danger.  An Ex Parte Order can provide help in the following ways:

  • temporarily restraining the respondent from abusing, threatening to abuse, molesting, stalking, or disturbing the peace of the petitioner;
  • temporarily restraining the respondent from entering the dwelling unit of the petitioner; and
  • a temporary order of custody of minor children where appropriate.

These protections only last until a hearing is held on the request for a permanent Order of Protection, which must be within 15 days.  Don’t go through this process alone, contact a Columbia domestic violence lawyer today and see what could be done to help you.

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