Seminole County Domestic Violence Lawyers

» Domestic violence is habitual, routine abusive conduct enacted with the intention of exerting power over and removing agency from a member of the household or intimate partner. While the frequency and severity of the abuse varies, a common thread of domestic violence is the perpetrator’s systematic need to control the victim’s personhood. Abusive behavior may initially seem innocuous (i.e. asking the victim to be more mindful of spending habits), but can escalate into life-threatening territory as time progresses (i.e. threatening to hurt or kill the victim for making any purchases).

» Domestic violence includes, but is not limited to:

• Physical – Does your partner choke, slap, hit or use a weapon against you? Does your partner threaten to hurt you, your loved ones or your pets? 

• Emotional – Does your partner verbally shame or criticize you? Does your partner discourage you from seeing your friends or family? Does your partner monitor and stalk you?

• Sexual – Does your partner sabotage birth control or refuse to use protection? Does your partner pressure or force you into unwanted sexual acts? Sexual abuse is often linked with physical abuse.

• Financial – Does your partner withhold resources from you? Does your partner pressure you to work, or refuse to let you to work? Does your partner destroy your property?

If someone you love has been arrested for domestic violence — we can help. If your loved one has been ordered to wear a GPS device, prohibited from returning home and instructed to cease contact with you — we can help.

» It is irrelevant if you filed the report with the police or have been notified by the State Attorney’s Office to meet with them. You still have the right to clarify your wishes. You have the right to decline prosecution. You have the right to seek alternative options.

» Keep in mind that anything you say can be used against you under certain circumstances.

The Law Offices of Matthews R. Bark can inform you of these situations and of the procedures that will not only protect your rights but also bring your wishes to fruition.

» Call us today to get back control of your life.

Charges of domestic violence need not entail actual physical violence. Many domestic violence cases involve non-violent accusations such as threatening communication, stalking or harassment. Penalties for nonviolent misdemeanors can be as severe as those for violent misdemeanors. 

» Without proper and prompt legal representation, accusations of  abuse whether legitimate or not, may result in restraining orders and other harsh legal consequences prior to any determination of innocence or guilt. These penalties can jeopardize every aspect of your life, from child visitation rights to employment security to immigration status.

The Law Offices of Matthews R. Bark has extensive experience in representing those who have accused of domestic violence or have had a restraining order placed against them. We will explain your options and ensure that your constitutional rights are aggressively safeguarded.

» Do not wait until it’s too late to protect your future. Contact us today.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone and can be difficult to identify in more nuanced cases. Abusive behavior that may initially seem innocuous (i.e. asking a partner to be more mindful of spending habits) can gradually escalate into life-threatening territory as time progresses (i.e. threatening to hurt or kill a partner for making any purchases). For this reason, victims of domestic violence may not always know when to seek legal representation, which can be a fatal error.

» If you are a victim of domestic violence, your priority should be securing your safety by taking immediate legal action.

The Law Offices of Matthews R. Bark can help you attain a restraining order and other legal safeguards while we help you get control of your life back and ensure that you are properly recompensed for the offenses enacted against you.

» Do not wait until it’s too late to protect your future. Contact us today.

» What is an injunction, or restraining order?

An injunction, or restraining order, limits a person’s scope of conduct in specific ways against the petitioner. For example, a restraining order can forbid someone from contacting the petitioner, force someone to evacuate from petitioner’s home or require someone to maintain a certain distance from the petitioner at all times.

» Who can petition for a restraining order?

Florida allows a petition for a restraining order against someone related to the petitioner by blood or marriage; someone with whom the petitioner shares or previously shared an intimate, romantic or sexual relationship; a member or former member of the petitioner’s household; the parent of one of the petitioner’s children, whether or not both parents were previously married or shared a home.

» What happens if a restraining order is violated?

A person who violates a restraining order can be prosecuted by the state, via fines or jail terms.

» What are the legal consequences of domestic violence?

Conviction of misdemeanor domestic violence can entail fines up to $1000 and incarceration up to 1 year. Conviction of felony domestic violence can entail much larger fines, incarceration for more than one year, and more.

» Is domestic violence considered a misdemeanor or felony in Florida?

Both. Domestic violence charges include assault (second-degree misdemeanor), aggravated assault (third-degree felony) and/or battery (first-degree misdemeanor or third-degree felony).