Texas Domestic Violence Lawyers
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In the state of Texas, domestic violence is referred to as ‘family violence,’ a broad term that encompasses many kinds of abuse and mistreatment. Family violence occurs in more intimate settings between family members, making it all the more painful to confront and press charges.
Violence against women and child abuse are the most common forms of family violence. Abuse in family violence situations can take the following forms:
- Physical force - Hitting, slapping, kicking, biting, choking, and assault with a weapon
- Sexual abuse & exploitation - Rape, sodomy, prostitution, and other acts that involve coercion of a sexual nature
- Emotional abuse - Verbal criticism, emotional blackmail, harassment, stalking, etc.
- Neglect - Depriving children or dependants of food, clothing, and proper shelter; failing to provide emotional and psychological support
- Economic abuse - Taking advantage of others in the family by controlling finances or forcefully taking charge of finances; forcing someone to work or not allowing someone in the family to work
Other types of abuse may exist within the family where a person’s religious and political beliefs are manipulated or dominated. In the state of Texas, dating violence also comes under family violence crimes. If such charges are brought, a judge will first establish a dating history, taking into consideration the length and nature of the relationship, among other things.
Texas Domestic Violence Lawyers
When someone is charged with a family-violence crime, the victim often recants and decides to drop charges because of the family connection. The law, however, is not so forgiving, and requires the person charged with the crime to still go to court. This is to ensure that the charges were not withdrawn out of fear and that such behavior might be prevented in the future. Penalties for family-violence crimes can be very steep, including imprisonment, fines, and civil suits.
Orders of Protection
To stop abusive behavior that occurs within a family or dating relationship, one can get an order of protection issued from a judge. This protection order makes it illegal for the abuser to come near the victim, whether in a public place or at home.
Orders of protection can be issued for up to two years and may also include mandatory counseling, intervention programs, and payment of spousal or child support. Orders of protection are available against spouses, former spouses, blood relatives, siblings, roommates, relatives by marriage, a person you have dated, someone you share a child with, and foster children.
Contact a Skilled Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer
For your convenience, we answer our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Evening and weekend meetings can be arranged upon request. To set up a free initial consultation call us at 844-402-2992 or email us. Se habla español.
At Bailey & Galyen, we provide comprehensive legal counsel to individuals across Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico, including Arlington, Bedford, Burleson, Carrollton, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, Mansfield, Mesquite, Midland/Odessa, Plano, San Antonio, Santa Fe, Springdale, and Sugar Land.