If you are a domestic violence victim, the domestic violence lawyers at Berman Voss are here to help get you to safety.
Anyone who hurts someone with whom they share a domestic relationship deserves to be brought to justice. The Pennsylvania family lawyers at Berman Voss are here to provide you with the steadfast legal advocacy you deserve. Berman Voss will listen to your story and hold the abuser accountable.
In order to obtain an order of protection from abuse in Pennsylvania, known colloquially as a “restraining order,” an individual will have to prove that the alleged offender did at least one of the following:
It is important to note that any individual, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can be found guilty of domestic violence in Pennsylvania.
For most people, after becoming a victim of domestic violence, the first thing they do is call the police and seek an order of protection from abuse. The police can document your case and get you to safety. You and your lawyer can then file a petition in court for an order of protection from abuse.
First, however, you will likely apply for a temporary order of protection. Thereafter, you will attend a hearing within 10 days, wherein a judge will determine whether the temporary order should be made final. If you and your lawyer can prove that the act, or acts, of abuse had truly occurred, you should receive a final order of protection. This order can last for up to three years, but it may be extended if the court finds the individual committed another act of abuse after the initial final order was issued.
One important aspect of an order of protection is that it can potentially extend beyond the person who was directly abused. In many cases, a documented act of domestic violence may be enough to persuade a court that the abuser is parentally unfit or poses a threat to the child. This, in turn, can result in the other parent being awarded sole custody of their child.
Whether you need an order of protection or are looking to modify the terms of your custody agreement after being made a victim of domestic violence, Berman Voss is here to help.