Addressing Domestic Violence Toward Men in Divorce
While domestic violence is commonly thought of as a women's issue, many men also experience physical abuse in their marriages. Many men who are being physically abused at home do not fight back or call the police unless the abuse has escalated to life-threatening levels or the children are being harmed. Men may fear that the police will not take them seriously when they say that their wife is hitting them, or may have experienced ridicule upon trying to tell others about what is happening due to bias. This is especially true for men who are married to women who are significantly smaller than they are. When you have decided to leave your abusive marriage, the domestic violence you have been subjected to is likely to be relevant. You should always tell your divorce lawyer if you have experienced violence at the hands of your spouse.
Getting an Order of Protection
If your spouse has used violence against you or has threatened to hurt you or your children, you can likely obtain an order of protection, commonly called a restraining order. Orders of protection can be extremely helpful for male domestic violence survivors who are worried that the police will not take their situations seriously. If you have a restraining order and your spouse violates it by coming to your home or sending threatening messages, the police are extremely likely to respond decisively by arresting her.
An order of protection can also tell your spouse to leave the family home immediately and not return. If she has weapons, she can be ordered to surrender them. It is important to remain vigilant even if you have a restraining order in case your spouse chooses to ignore the court’s orders and try to hurt you again.
Protecting Your Children
Someone who is violently abusive to her spouse is more likely to hurt her children, intentionally or otherwise. If your spouse has a history of throwing things at you or drawing weapons, there is a significant risk of harm to your children. Courts are generally reluctant to allow a violent spouse unsupervised parenting time, even if she has only been violent to her spouse so far. You may be able to get full custody for yourself or supervised visitation only for your abuser if your attorney can help you prove that you have suffered domestic violence at the hands of your spouse.
Contact a Domestic Violence and Divorce Lawyer for Men
A divorce lawyer who has experience working with male domestic violence survivors can help you plan to leave your marriage as safely as possible. Domestic violence can affect anyone and should always be taken seriously, especially if there are also children in the home.
