Domestic violence is one of the nastiest problems people face in their life. Typically, it means someone is abusing their spouse, children, or parents physically or mentally. Anything can be the reason behind domestic violence. But no matter what the reason is, it should be stopped.
That’s why the government has introduced legal support to protect citizens from physical and mental abuse at home. A domestic violence lawyer can help anyone get legal support to get rid of domestic violence.
If you want to learn more about them, this is the right place. Here I’ll discuss domestic violence attorneys and everything you need to know about them. Also, you’ll have a basic idea about domestic violence.

Who is a Domestic Violence Lawyer?
A legal professional who represents someone facing physical, financial, mental, or emotional abuse in court to protect their right is called a domestic violence attorney or lawyer. Attorneys can represent the victim directly in court, but lawyers can’t.
In a word, a legal professional who handles domestic violence cases is called a domestic violence lawyer.
What does a Domestic Violence Lawyer Do?
Assessing the Case
Domestic violence comes in several forms. But that doesn’t mean anything can be counted as violence. To be counted as domestic violence, it needs to meet certain criteria.
A lawyer or attorney can assess your situation and determine whether it can be considered as domestic violence or not.
Helping Collecting Evidence
To prove the violence in court, you need some evidence. Again, not all the evidence will be approved.
In such a case, a lawyer can help you collect the type of evidence that is valued in court. Without solid evidence, your case won’t be strong.
Filing a Lawsuit
To receive compensation for damages and punish the abuser, the victim may want to file a lawsuit. In this case, the lawyer can help them. Filing a lawsuit needs anyone to go through a slightly complex process. So, it may take time to understand and follow it.
Lawyers have experience with it. So, they can do it fast.
Calculating Compensation
If you want compensation for the damages resulting from abuse and violence, you need to submit a solid claim for that. In such a situation, you can claim a compensation amount.
The amount should be calculated properly. There are several fields based on which domestic violence compensation is counted. The lawyer can help you to calculate the exact compensation amount.
Filing for Divorce
Most often, domestic violence cases end in divorce because the victim doesn’t want to continue with the spouse who abuses regularly. In such cases, a lawyer can help in filing for a divorce.
Filing for a divorce is a different process and falls under a different law. But domestic violence lawyers often practice this law too. So, anyone can take help from them.
Helping Attain Child Custody
Also, the victim often wants to have child custody after a divorce. The reason is- they don’t want the child to live with an abuser.
In such cases, the lawyer can help with how child custody would work and what may happen. They have some knowledge about child custody law, which they can use to help the victim attain custody of the child.
Shortly speaking, a domestic violence attorney can help victims with everything in the process of filing a violence lawsuit. Also, they can help with additional issues like filing for divorce, having child custody, receiving spousal support, etc.
Types of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence can be of several types according to the definition by US law. To be counted as violence, it should meet certain definitions or criteria. These are often called as types of domestic violence.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is any type of violent behavior on the victim that damages physically. It includes biting, hitting, slapping, punching, shoving, battering, pinching, pulling hair, burning, cutting, etc. Also, denying medical treatment is counted as physical abuse.
Forcing someone to take alcohol or drug can be counted as physical abuse.
Emotional Abuse
Any activity that damages the victim emotionally is called emotional abuse. Such activities result in reduced self-esteem and self-worth. Some common emotional abuses are name-calling, constant criticism, interfering with any ability, etc.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any application of force or attempts to apply force to have sexual contact or behavior with the victim. It includes forcing to have sex, marital rape, attacking sexual body parts, sexually demeaning, or even telling a sexual joke when the victim is unwilling to participate.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse includes taking control of financial resources, minimizing or stopping access to funds, stopping from going to work, etc. Any kind of activity that minimizes the victim’s ability to access and control finance is counted as financial abuse.
Psychological Abuse
Psychological abuse is the actions that increase fear inside the victim. Some common psychological abuses include threats to hurt them or their loved ones, damaging and destroying properties, injuring someone, isolating the victim from loved ones, etc.
Stalking
Stalking is often counted as domestic violence too. Anyone can keep in touch with their partner, but that must be within a limit. Following regularly, spying, harassing, watching, showing up in the workplace frequently without notice, etc., are some examples of stalking crimes.
Also, cyberstalking is counted as a crime if it affects the victim somehow.

How to Select the Best Lawyer for Domestic Violence?
Lawyers working with such violence are available everywhere. So, there is no doubt that you’ll find several around you easily. The problem is finding the right lawyer.
You can follow the process below to pick one of the best domestic violence attorneys around you.
Step 1- Making a List
Your first task will be making a list of the lawyers around you who handles such cases. For this, you can seek recommendations from your family, friends, and neighbors.
Also, search engines will take you to several lawyers working with domestic violence cases. Include them in the list.
Visit your local bar community and ask for some recommendations if your list doesn’t have more than 10 names.
Thus, you can make a list of some of the most compatible lawyers around you.
Step 2- Spying on Them
In this step, your task is to spy on the lawyers or law firms on your list. Look for their online presence, mostly websites, to understand better the type of cases they handle, success ratio, recent activities, and so on.
Go to review websites and look for their reviews and ratings.
Based on your observation in this step, rank everyone on the list. Pick the top 4-5 based on ranking to proceed to the next step.
Step 3- Seeking Consultancy
Most lawyers nowadays offer a free consultancy session. Contact them and see if they offer such scope or not. Join the free consultancy session and discuss your case in detail. Also, talk about their experience in such cases, their possible approach to the case, the scope to receive compensation, etc.
Don’t forget to ask questions. I’ll discuss some common questions you can ask in this step.
If direct consultancy is unavailable, talk about your case through a phone call in short and ask about your next approach.
After discussing your issue with the top 4-5 lawyers, use your gut feeling to rank them. Focus on their experience with similar cases, communication skills, your comfort, etc., while ranking.
Step 4- Picking One
Pick the person you’ve ranked at the top.

Questions to Ask in the Primary Discussion with a Lawyer
What kind of domestic violence cases do you handle?
Domestic violence can be of different types, which I’ve already discussed. There is a chance that a lawyer practices only a specific type of violence. So, you should ask this question. It’ll help you know if they can work on your case.
Is my case strong enough?
Such cases are sensitive. So, the court doesn’t make a strong decision without enough evidence and reason. As lawyers have studied and practiced such cases, they can help you understand your evidence’s strength.
What can be the possible outcome of the case?
This is the most common question lawyers face. You must be curious about what can happen. If so, don’t hesitate to ask them about the possible outcome. This will help you to decide on your further steps.
What’s your fee structure, or how much is your fee? What’s included in the fee?
You must ask this question to have an idea about the possible cost of the lawyer. It has a huge impact on your decision. Also, to keep things clear if you proceed further, knowing this is important.
Talk about their fee and other related issues without any hesitation.
How can we communicate?
You should be able to communicate with the lawyer frequently to keep them updated. So, asking this question is important. If any lawyer doesn’t allow you to communicate frequently, you shouldn’t appoint them.
How much time can you put into my case?
Often lawyers handle multiple cases at a time. Handling ten-fifteen cases simultaneously is not an issue for experienced lawyers. But more than that may distract them from concentrating on a case. So, ask about the cases they’re handling and if they have enough time to put on your case.
What is the Cost of Hiring a Lawyer for Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence attorneys often charge an hourly rate. So, you have to pay for the number of hours they spend on your case.
The typical hourly rate of such a lawyer is around $250. However, you’ll find many charging more than this amount per hour, up to $400. Also, some ask for less than the typical rate, maybe $180-$200 per hour.
It depends on several factors. The most common factor affecting the rate is experience. Also, the type of court affects the hourly rate.
Some other factors affecting the charge of lawyers are-
- Previous criminal records
- Previous issues regarding domestic violence
- The possibility of going for a trial
- Number of charges involved in the case
- The place where the issue takes place, etc.
Based on the typical hourly cost, the cumulated fee of a lawyer can be anything in the range of $4,000-$8,000. It depends on how many hours the lawyer spends on your case.
To keep things easier for you, lawyers offer several payment plans. The most common system is- you can first pay around 30%-40% of the total payment and then pay the rest following a monthly payment system.
Is Hiring a Lawyer for Domestic Violence a Must?
Hiring a lawyer for domestic violence cases is not a must. You can build your own cases, present your evidence, and take yourself through the whole process. But it is a complex process. So, there is a chance that you’ll lose the path somewhere.
That’s why hiring someone who knows everything about it is always suggested. A lawyer can take you through the whole process when you’re mentally disturbed because of facing domestic violence.
Hiring a lawyer for such cases is a must because-
- Experienced lawyers help file the case properly so that there’s no gap in it.
- Lawyers can help you to present the evidence in a feasible way to strengthen your case.
- If you’re stuck somewhere for any reason, lawyers can help you.
- Lawyers know what factors are most important in such cases. As a result, they can help you find the information required for the case.
- By handling everything and making the process easy for you, lawyers can help you stay away from the added stress.
- They can use their investigation skills to dig deep into the case to ensure and protect your rights.
You’ll find many more reasons to hire someone to walk you through the process.
If you can’t hire a lawyer, don’t worry. There are several options for you.
What If I Can’t Afford a Lawyer for Domestic Violence?
Look for Legal Aid Societies
Legal aid societies are non-profit organizations helping people with low income to get legal support. Look for such organizations around you that can help you with legal aid.
Grab Discount Opportunities
Law firms often offer discount opportunities on different occasions. You can grab such opportunities and get legal services at almost half of the actual cost.
Visit Law Schools
Law schools often provide people with legal help in exchange for using the case as study material. From them, you’ll get legal help at a minimum cost or even for free.
Check the Bar Community
Several bar communities offer free or low-cost consultations on a specific day of every week or month. You can grab that opportunity to know what to do and how to approach it whenever you’re stuck with the case.
Some law firms also offer free or low-cost consultation sessions. Seek such opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I claim compensation for domestic violence?
Domestic violence cases can help you get compensation if you have physical or mental damage, but not always. Such compensation is counted based on medication, counseling, and treatment costs.
However, some government programs have been introduced to compensate victims of domestic violence. You can take help from those.
Can I hire a domestic violence lawyer in the middle of a process?
Yes, you can hire a lawyer even if you don’t get someone while filing the case. In such cases, you should inform them about everything you’ve done.
Also, if you want, you can hire someone for consultancy whenever you’re stuck in the process. So, don’t worry about it.