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Domestic violence should never be tolerated or ignored. In fact, domestic violence can make an already complicated, stressful, and painful divorce that much more so. Domestic violence is so serious that it can even affect the outcome of your divorce.  

Divorce is one of life’s most stressful events, but one thing that can make it even more stressful is when it involves domestic violence. Domestic violence refers to abuse perpetrated by one partner against the other in a marriage or in another intimate relationship. Domestic violence not only makes divorce more stressful, volatile, and painful but also makes it a more complicated matter because domestic violence can make family law and criminal law overlap. If you’re facing a divorce and are also the victim of domestic abuse, you need a dedicated Aurora domestic violence lawyer – who has extensive experience in both divorce and domestic violence – on your side.

Domestic Violence

In the State of Colorado, domestic violence refers to an act of violence or the threat of violence against one’s significant other (either in a marriage or in an intimate relationship). Domestic violence, however, can also include committing any other crime against the other person (or property, including an animal) or committing any municipal ordinance violation against the other person (or property, including an animal) – in an effort to coerce, punish, control, intimidate, or revenge that person. Domestic violence is a serious matter that should never be tolerated or ignored.

Domestic Violence Can Affect the Outcome of Your Divorce 

Divorce is an incredibly difficult and complicated legal process, and domestic violence can make it more so. In fact, a credible allegation of domestic violence can affect the outcome of your divorce by swaying the judge’s decisions on all of the following:

• Child custody arrangements
• Child support payments
• Alimony

Child Custody Arrangements

An allegation or charge of domestic violence can play a role in how the judge determines your child custody arrangements. If you and your divorcing spouse aren’t able to hammer out child custody arrangements that you are both willing to sign off on – which is often the case in divorces involving domestic abuse – the court will do so for you. The law requires the court to base its decisions related to children on their best interests, and the common consensus is that children are better served by having a relationship with both parents. If the judge, however, believes your children’s other parent could be a threat to them, he or she may require supervised visitation. 

Don’t Wait to Consult with an Experienced Aurora, CO, Domestic Violence Lawyer

Divorce is complicated enough, but domestic violence can tip the scale in the wrong direction. If you are the victim of domestic violence and are facing a divorce, Chris Little at CNL Law Firm, PLLC, in Aurora, Colorado, is a compassionate domestic violence lawyer with impressive experience successfully defending the rights of clients like you. Our dedicated legal team is here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at (720) 370-2171 for more information today.