Physical violence is never an acceptable action in an argument

People who are in a relationship are likely going to get into arguments every now and then. When the couple can resolve things in an appropriate manner, those disagreements can actually strengthen the relationship. When the argument escalates and tempers flare, some people might choose to try to the end the argument in a physical manner. We want you to know that trying to use physical violence to end an argument is never an acceptable thing to do.

If you have been attacked physically, or in any other way, during your relationship, you might be afraid to leave. There isn’t much that we can do to help you overcome the fear, but we can let you know about your legal options for getting some protection from the person who is harming you.

If you and your attacker were living together, were married or have a child together, you can seek out a protective order. This order would order the person to avoid coming into contact with you. There are three different types of protective orders — interim, temporary and final. This tiered system allows you to get a protective order quickly so that you don’t have to wait for the final hearing to get the protection you need.

We acknowledge that leaving an abuser is a scary time. We can help you to get the legal protection you need. If the person violates the order, he or she can be arrested. While protective orders aren’t a surefire way to stay safe, they do give you the legal basis for keeping the person away.