The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and celebration, as we spend time with family and friends and take a break from our daily lives. Unfortunately, sometimes incidents of domestic violence increase over the holiday season. This problem is not unique to West...
The People’s Lawyer
Family Protection Orders
Key points about final hearings for family protective orders
Allegations of domestic violence are unfortunately common in West Virginia. This can occur as an ongoing series of mistreatment or it can happen without warning. In some cases, it is said to have happened but did not happen at all or was not as clear as the complaint...
Can a protective order save me after divorce?
If you are living with an abusive spouse, you do not have to stay. The law has protections, and the police will help enforce those protections. However, you need to understand what could happen, and then, plan how to stop your spouse. Economic abuse If your case is...
How does West Virginia define domestic violence?
Domestic violence is taken more seriously than it was in the past, with more protections available for abuse victims. However, because of the complex nature of family and household dynamics, it is understandable if you are not sure that what’s happening to you is...
Abuse can cause lasting effects on your children
Life often changes after marriage – people buy homes, start families and invest in the future, but that doesn't mean life is better after marriage. People may find that their spouse acts differently after marriage. They may become more controlling, they may hit you,...
What are the 4 phases of an abusive relationship?
No two abusive relationships are alike. Even so, certain patterns do emerge in many of them, like abrupt, ugly shifts in your partner’s mood due to the slightest provocation. Maintaining rigid control over you is an abuser’s typical strategy. The smallest thing, like...
2 types of domestic abuse that can happen in a marriage
Not everyone finds themselves as happy with their spouse after they move in with each other. Your spouse's personality may suddenly change. You may find them more physically aggressive or controlling now that you're around them more often. If you feel like your...
How does West Virginia criminalize domestic violence?
The common understanding of domestic violence, which has been articulated by the National Coalition on Domestic Violence, is the intentional intimidation, sexual assault, physical assault, battery, or any abusive behavior against an intimate or familial partner. This...
What is addressed in a family protective order?
Family protective orders can provide important protections anyone impacted by family violence. For those seeking one, they should be familiar with what can be addressed in a family protective order. What can be addressed in a family protective order? Provisions that a...
Getting protection from domestic abuse
Domestic abuse, whether from a spouse, intimate partner, family friend or relative, is painful and scarring. Often, victims feel ashamed and even partially responsible for the abuse, and so it goes on, sometimes unreported for years. In fact, statistics show that in...
