Domestic Violence Lawyers in Hanover, MA
Assisting Clients Through a Difficult Time
If you are in immediate physical danger, please call 911.
According to the American Bar Association, domestic violence is “a pattern of many behaviors directed at achieving and maintaining power and control over an intimate partner, such as physical violence, emotional abuse, isolation of the victim, economic abuse, intimidation, and coercion and threats.” The abuser can be a family member or an intimate partner, current or former co-resident, parent of the same child, or related by blood or through marriage, for example.
Domestic violence is shockingly common and is not selective of race, gender, age, etc. The impacts it has on its victims can vary greatly and can have profound effects on children, especially. Violence not only affects the victims themselves but those around them, such as their family and friends, co-workers, and others.
Abuse is never ok, and you are not alone. At O’Connor Law Firm, we have many years of experience helping people through this incredibly difficult time, and we are here to help you as well. Contact us at 774-703-3755 to find out more about your delicate situation and learn more about what you can do to protect yourself.
Can I Get a Restraining Order or an Abuse Prevention Order?
Courts have the authority to issue a Restraining Order, also known as an Abuse Prevention Order or 209A in Massachusetts, that requires the abuser to stop a certain behavior, such as harassment or physically harming the victim. You can obtain an Abuse Prevention Order against your spouse, former spouse, blood relative or relative by marriage, current or former household member, or someone you have had a significant dating relationship with.
You may request that the court enforces no further abuse, that the abuser leaves and remains away from your place of work/home, that the abuser no longer has contact with you, that temporary custody of children is awarded to you, the abuser does not have any contact with them, and other requests based on your specific needs.
Police then enforce the Abuse Prevention Order and are required to act to protect the victim. If there are violations of this prevention order, the abuser may be subjected to fines, paying expenses incurred by the victim due to the behavior, completing a batterer’s intervention program, or other penalties. If the behavior continues, courts are also able to order that GPS tracking devices be worn by the abuser and that they are ordered to stay out of defined geographic locations.
Abuse is never ok, and you don’t have to continue being a victim. O’Connor Family Law has helped many people determine what their specific domestic violence situation entails, and what steps they can take to find relief, and then helped them to do so. We respect the delicate nature of your situation and are here to help you move forward. Please contact us today at 774-703-3755 to find out more about how we can help you.