Domestic Violence & Protective Orders

Austin Domestic Violence Attorneys

Texas Protective Orders and Domestic Violence

If you are experiencing violence at the hands of your spouse or someone with whom you are or have been in a relationship, you must know that there is no excuse for the criminal behavior that is being done to you. You deserve protection and if there are children involved, they need to know that their home is safe. At the same time, those who have been unjustly accused of domestic violence deserve to have their name and reputation cleared through aggressive representation in court. The family law attorneys at Bertolino LLP are ready to assist you with any domestic violence issue you may be facing.

There may be need for you to get immediate protection and we can help you obtain a temporary protective order that will require your abuser to maintain distance from you and can be put in place for fourteen to twenty days. Our lawyers will demonstrate to a judge that you face ongoing violence or danger and the order can be enacted without ever notifying the abuser.

While this temporary act is a good start, it may not be enough. An attorney at our firm also can help you apply for a personal protective order that can be effective for up to two years. In this instance, the person against whom the claims of abuse are being made does have the right to appear in court and share his or her testimony regarding the accusations.

Sadly, there are instances in which false accusations of domestic violence are made, particularly when a couple is in the middle of a contentious divorce. A spouse who is angry may try to use these charges as a way of gaining the upper hand in issues of child custody and property negotiations. Our lawyers also are ready to help men and women who need to defend themselves against these harmful claims. We know how damaging the connection to domestic violence charges, no matter how unfounded, can be to a person's career and personal reputation. Your divorce deserves to be settled on fair terms, and we will work tirelessly to make this happen.

It is not just spouses who have the right to file for protective orders in cases of domestic violence. People who live together, who have a child together, who are simply boyfriend and girlfriend but live in different homes, or who were previously in a relationship have the right to seek protection from those who present the threat of danger. Make sure you know your rights and the extent of the resources that are available to you under the law.

If you are involved in either side of a domestic violence situation, a family law attorney at Bertolino LLP is ready to help you resolve the dispute in a manner that is safe, fair, and prevents problems in the future.