Family courts fail to protect witnesses of domestic violence

By |2022-04-05T17:07:38+00:0023 Feb 2016|Categories: Family Law|

Family courts fail to protect witnesses of domestic violence

One thing that many people look forward to doing is starting a family of their own. Having a family isn’t always easy. No family is perfect, but there are many that have to deal with issues that no family should have to deal with. One of these issues is domestic violence.

Domestic violence is an issue that family courts have seemingly taken lightly in the past. In more recent years, concern has been raised about the emotional state and future of children who have witnessed domestic violence in their homes. The reason people have been so concerned about this issue is because many studies have shown that children who grow up in a home where domestic violence is present are likely to grow up and become abusers themselves. There has also been questions about how little a claim of domestic violence affects the court’s decision about child custody.

If a mother or father reports that their spouse has been abusive, many people probably believe that this is something courts will consider when they are awarding custody of a child to one or both parents. Unfortunately, many courts do not consider this a huge issue unless the parent has abused the child as well. It is important to keep the child safe from physical harm, and it is also believed that if a child lives with the parent who is the abuser, there is only more trouble to be experienced later down the line. In addition to the physical harm, emotional damage should also be considered.

It is hard enough for victims of domestic violence to deal with what has happened to them, but when the children are affected, whether it is physically or emotionally, it should be taken more seriously. Those who have been abused should contact an attorney to discuss their options about how to keep themselves and their children safe.

Source: Huffington Post, “Can Family Courts Protect Children Exposed to Domestic Violence?,” David Adams, Feb. 11, 2016

About the Author:

Dorie Anne Rogers - The Law Offices of Dorie A. Rogers, APC
Dorie A. Rogers, a Family Law Specialist, Certified by the State Bar of California, has been an attorney since 1981 with an exclusive family law practice located in Orange County. She is accepting dissolution cases with support and property issues including the use of forensics to ascertain business value, community interests and to establish monthly case flow analysis. Ms. Rogers has substantial experience in high conflict custody litigation involving sophisticated psychological issues. She drafts premarital and postmarital agreement designed to define and establish parties' separate and community property interests. Paternity cases and domestic violence matters are considered part of her practice. Ms. Rogers is a court-approved and court-appointed to represent minor children.Ms. Rogers consults with individuals concerned about entering or exiting a relationship. She advises effective strategies for dissolution or premarital planning. Knowledge is power and good planning affords better results.Specialties: Family Law Specialist, Certified by the State Bar of California
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