Why Hire a Domestic Violence Lawyer in Columbus, Ohio?

If you have been the victim of domestic violence, you may have questions or concerns as to what steps you ought to take in order to obtain a civil protection order (CPO). In Ohio, a CPO is granted in domestic relations court. A CPO is issued when the victim has a special relationship with the abuser and meets the legal definition of being in danger of domestic violence.

A CPO orders the abuser to stay away from the victim following an incident or threat of domestic violence. A CPO can last for several years and the abuser can go to jail if he or she violates the order. A CPO protects victims of domestic violence and can be issued against your spouse, former spouse, the parent of your child or children, your parent, a sibling, or another household member. A CPO may contain the following orders:

• Direct the abuser to stop the abuse
• Order the abuser to vacate the premises
• Grant possession of the household to you or another family member
• Award temporary custody of minor children
• Require counseling
• Require the abuser to refrain from entering your residence, school, workplace, etc.

A victim, the parent of a victim, or an adult family or household member of a victim can file a petition for a domestic violence civil protection order. If you are seeking a civil protection order to protect yourself from an abusive spouse or family member, it is advantageous to hire a domestic violence lawyer in Columbus, Ohio to represent you. It is especially important to work with an attorney if the abuser has his or her own lawyer.

While anyone can file a petition for a domestic violence civil protection order in a local court, it is not advisable to do so because people who represent themselves are held to the same standards as attorneys and must follow the same rules. The court isn’t allowed to treat you differently from someone who is represented by an attorney. If you don’t have counsel, you may have trouble proving your case, which could prevent you from being able to have a domestic violence civil protection order issued by the court.

If you are the victim of false allegations of domestic violence and your spouse is seeking a civil protection order against you, it is recommended that you hire a lawyer to provide you with vigorous defense. Sometimes, an angry spouse may use false domestic violence accusations as a form of retaliation to obtain an unfair advantage in a divorce or child custody proceeding. Therefore, it is important to contact an experienced attorney to defend you and have the CPO prevented or rescinded.

A domestic violence lawyer in Columbus, Ohio can provide you with legal advice and represent you before the court. At Edward F. Whipps & Associates, we can help protect your rights, whether you have been a victim of domestic violence or have had a CPO unfairly issued against you. Our firm is knowledgeable about Ohio’s domestic violence laws and can assess the facts of your case.