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Orlando Domestic Violence Lawyer
No one deserves to become a victim of domestic violence and no one deserves to be falsely accused.
At McMichen, Cinami & Demps, we provide experienced legal representation for victims and the accused in the Central Florida area. Contact an experienced Orlando domestic violence attorney today.
According to the latest data, there are over 108,000 domestic violence incidents reported to the police in Florida annually. The Florida judicial system takes domestic violence cases extremely seriously, and all accusations are handled very quickly.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, it is extremely important to use the court system to protect yourself and safeguard your rights.
If you are someone who has been falsely accused, you need to take steps to protect yourself from the alleged victim. Regardless of your situation, at McMichen, Cinami & Demps, we can help you seek protection to prevent any additional harm.
Table of Contents
Understanding Domestic Violence
While many people think of domestic violence as involving violence between spouses, the definition of domestic violence in Florida is actually much broader. Florida law defines domestic violence as:
“any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.”
A “family or household member” includes:
“spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married.”
As you can see, Florida’s domestic violence statute is intended to provide protection not just for spouses, but for all family members and cohabitants who face violence or the threat of violence in their homes.
Additionally, this statue does not specify a minimum number of offenses before the abuser can be prosecuted. In fact, a single instance of abuse may be enough to successfully receive an injunction against the abuser and protect yourself from future cases of abuse. If you have suffered domestic abuse in at least one instance in the Orlando, Florida area, contact one of our domestic violence lawyers to protect yourself from potential future abuse.
Examples of Domestic Violence Abuse in The State of Florida:
Contrary to popular belief, physical abuse is not a necessary component of domestic violence charges. In fact, there are many forms of non-physical violence that may result in getting a successful injunction against the abuser. Some of these include:
- Intimidation
- Threats
- Excessive Phone Calls
- Stalking
- Verbal Abuse
- Social Abuse
If you or a loved one suffer from physical or non-physical abuse, you should seek legal advice from an experienced family law attorney. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our experienced domestic violence attorneys in Orlando, FL.
Help for Victims of Domestic Violence
If you believe you may be in immediate danger, you should call 911.
To prevent future acts of domestic violence, we can help you can seek what is known as an “injunction” through the Florida state court system. An injunction is a court order that prohibits domestic abusers from having any contact with their victims. Once you obtain an injunction, your abuser will be legally prohibited from coming near your home, your place of work, your car, and any other places where you may be vulnerable.
There are different types of injunctions for different types of abuse:
- Domestic violence,
- Sexual violence,
- Dating violence,
- Repeat violence, and
- Stalking.
Each injunction has its own requirements, and the type of injunction you need to obtain will depend on your relationship with the accused.
At McMichen, Cinami & Demps, we have helped numerous domestic violence victims seek help through the Florida courts. When you contact us, we will take action quickly to seek an appropriate injunction on your behalf.
Defending False Allegations of Domestic Abuse
Individuals may sometimes make false claims of domestic violence in order to cause harm to their spouses or other family members. For example, false allegations are sometimes used in order to make it more difficult for a parent to obtain child custody in a divorce.
Unfortunately, false domestic violence allegations can do a tremendous amount of damage. As a result, if you have been falsely accused, it is important to speak with an attorney right away. For example, if you do nothing and an injunction is entered against you, you could:
- Be forced to leave your shared residence
- Lose your right to spend time with your children
- Face criminal penalties, including possible jail time, if you accidentally violate the injunction
- Face employment-related consequences, including loss of your job or professional license
For more information about how we can help you defend against false accusations of domestic violence, we urge you to contact us right away.
What Happens After an Accuser Files a Petition for an Injunction?
Once an accuser files a petition for an injunction, a judge must consider the petition “at the earliest possible time.” The judge can then either:
(i) grant a preliminary injunction that will remain valid until a full hearing on the petition (which will take place within 15 days),
(ii) enter an order setting a hearing without granting a preliminary injunction, or
(iii) deny the petition outright.
However, if the judge denies the petition, he or she must state the reasons for the denial. The accuser will then have the opportunity to file a supplemental petition with the court.
At the hearing, the judge will hear arguments and review evidence from both the accuser and the accused. The judge will then decide whether to issue a final injunction.
Call Now To Speak With An Orlando Domestic Violence Lawyer
The Orlando domestic violence attorneys at the law offices of McMichen, Cinami & Demps have over five decades of combined experience representing individuals in cases involving accusations of domestic violence. Contact us to speak with an attorney about your situation. You may call us at (407) 898-2161 or request our help online today.
Our family law firm in Orlando, FL also provides:
- Divorce Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Child Custody Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Child Support Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Domestic Violence Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Mediation Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Modifications of Order Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Orders of Protection Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Paternity Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreement Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Property Division Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Spousal Support Lawyers in Orlando, FL
- Uncontested Divorce Lawyers in Orlando, FL
Orlando, FL Domestic Violence Resources:
- Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Florida Domestic Violence Hotline
- The Women’s Resource Center of Florida, Inc
Orlando, FL Domestic Violence Blogs:
- False Domestic Violence Accusations
- False Domestic Violence Allegations: How You Can Avoid Wrongful Allegations
- How Domestic Violence Could Affect Your Divorce
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McMichen, Cinami & Demps Divorce Lawyers
1500 E Concord St
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 898-2161
(407) 594-5102