Mediation, Divorce, and Orders of Protection
Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
Mediation and Orders of Protection Mediation is a process using a trained third party, usually an attorney, to facilitate the settlement of a case without having a trial. In Tennessee, mediation is required in most divorce cases; however, in domestic violence situations, mediation may be excused. If a spouse has an Order of Protection (OP) […]
Read More »Signs of Domestic Abuse and How to Help
Thursday, October 15th, 2020
Signs of Domestic Abuse Your friend keeps cancelling visits with you. The boyfriend/girlfriend is ALWAYS around, and you cannot have time with your friend alone. You see unexplained bruises on your elderly mother or father. Your “besty” seems stressed but won’t tell you why. All of these signs may point to someone you care about […]
Read More »Order of Protection: What Happens When One is Violated?
Friday, October 9th, 2020
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month So let’s talk about what happens when someone violates or breaks an Order of Protection(OP). If you are fearful of imminent harm or have experienced harm from an abuser, you can petition the Chancery Court or 4th Circuit Court for an Order of Protection, which protects you from contact […]
Read More »Domestic Violence Series: Financial support via an Order of Protection
Friday, March 29th, 2019
If you obtain an order of protection against someone you depend on financially, you have some options available to continue receiving financial support. The Tennessee statute that defines the scope of protective orders provides that the court may award financial support and possession of the residence to the petitioner. However, the focus of the hearing on the protective […]
Read More »Domestic Violence Series: Should I get an order of protection?
Friday, March 29th, 2019
.If you have been attacked, threatened, or otherwise put into fear by your partner or a member of your household, you may not know where to turn. You may be wondering: should I get an order of protection?Thankfully, in Tennessee, you have multiple options to deal with this situation should you ever face it. However, […]
Read More »Reporting Domestic Violence
Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
What should you expect when reporting domestic violence? No one wants to think of themselves as a victim of domestic violence, and many of us never saw it coming, but it is a reality of the world we live in. Over 77 thousand reports of domestic violence were made in Tennessee in 2017, according to the […]
Read More »Domestic Violence: Custody Implications
Tuesday, February 26th, 2019
When people think of domestic violence, their minds often turn to violence between intimate partners. We should also consider the impact of domestic violence on child custody. We all know that some children are subjected to domestic violence directly, but what happens if a child witnesses domestic violence carried out against a family member? Could […]
Read More »Domestic Violence Series: What is Battered Woman Syndrome, and how can you help?
Thursday, January 31st, 2019
Battered Woman Syndrome is recognized in the psychological community as a subcategory of post-traumatic stress disorder. Women experiencing this syndrome often show shame, guilt or a false sense of responsibility for the abuse they have endured, in addition to typical PTSD symptoms; so, it is typically treated as a more complex form of PTSD. Women […]
Read More »Domestic Violence Series: Resources for Leaving an Abusive Relationship
Thursday, January 31st, 2019
There are many reasons that someone facing domestic violence may remain in an abusive environment, be it from a romantic partner, close friend, or a family member. In fact, people in the midst of an abusive relationship might not even be fully aware that what they are experiencing “qualifies” as domestic violence or abuse. This […]
Read More »What’s an Order of Protection, and is it the same thing as a Restraining Order?
Thursday, January 3rd, 2019
An Order of Protection is an Order that either directs the defendant to stay away from you entirely and/or directs them to refrain from certain behavior if they do come around you. These are different from “restraining orders” because they only apply to certain parties and have varying levels of severity. Many people believe you can […]
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