Domestic Violence Injunctions and Divorce

This scenario happens more often in divorces today:exclusive use of the home.
A client comes in and states that he/she and theirUnfortunately, the only evidence that needs to be
spouse are still living together, but not getting along.presented to the judge is a scenario of events
Both parties want a divorce and in the divorce, theysworn under oath. No pictures are needed to show
both want the house and/or house and children. Theinjuries, no police reports have to have been filed and
client retains an attorney to begin the Divorceno witnesses have to be present. This leads to
process. However, the next call I get is my clientInjunctions being issued in cases where the Petitioner
stating that he or she was just served with ahas possibly fabricated the truth. Furthermore, most
Domestic Violence Injunction and he/she wasjudges are more likely to be safe than sorry and
ordered out of the home and therefore, cannot seegrant temporary injunctions.
his/her children or have no place to live because theyThe Domestic Violence Injunction places the person
cannot go back into the home.in the home and/or with the children with an
Domestic violence injunctions are highly overused byadvantage in the Divorce case, especially if the
parties in a divorce. To get an injunction, a personInjunction is permanently granted. The person who is
goes to the clerk of court and fills out paperworkremoved from the home, will have limited time with
describing events that have taken place to place athe children, an inability to go to the home to remove
person in fear. The paperwork is then sent to a dutyitems and will have to quickly relocate. The courts in
judge to read the petition. The Petition is signed asa Divorce may likely grant the Parent in the home
true and accurate by the Petitioner. If the duty judgewith the children exclusive use of the home and a
feels that the information in the petition is compellingmajority of the parenting time with the children in the
enough to determine that the petitioner is inDissolution of Marriage. Therefore, be aware of this
jeopardy of being harmed, then the judge will granttool used by many opposing parties in a Dissolution of
the Temporary injunction and set a final hearing onMarriage to gain advantage over the assets and the
the injunction within two weeks. Upon thechildren.
Respondent being served with the injunction, he orIf a person is truly in fear or is being abused, then
she will not be able to contact the Petitioner or go tothis tool is imperative for your safety, however, be
certain places in the injunction, including the maritalaware of an attorney who recommends this tool to
home, if the Petitioner is seeking temporary andgain an unfair advantage in a Divorce.