Raleigh Domestic Violence Lawyer

Raleigh Domestic Violence Attorney

Facing domestic violence charges can be stressful, overwhelming, and frustrating. Sometimes, all it takes is a mere accusation of domestic violence to cause undue turmoil in your social life, your working life, and your close relationships. Domestic violence allegations can have the power to change the public’s perception of you. It is vital that you retain legal representation who can help. Reach out to a Raleigh domestic violence lawyer today.

At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, our legal team is experienced in defending clients against domestic charges. We know how these serious allegations can impact your life, and we treat our clients with compassion. Our Raleigh criminal defense lawyers are prepared to develop an effective defense strategy that’s personalized to the unique circumstances of your case. Together, we can strive for ideal case outcomes.

What Constitutes Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is abusive behavior in a personal relationship that is used by one partner to physically, emotionally, or sexually manipulate the other partner. It is a way to gain power or control over someone in some capacity. It can affect men, women, and children in various ways depending on the form of abuse.

Not all abuse is physical, as emotional, psychological, and financial abuse, among others, are considered illegal. You could be accused of domestic violence for other types of behavior you may not know are considered wrong.

Types of Domestic Violence

If you find yourself accused of domestic violence or charged with it, you may want to consult with a seasoned criminal defense lawyer in Raleigh, North Carolina, to identify your options for defending yourself. Cases can be complex, and it can be helpful to have a lawyer at your side. Here are some of the various forms of domestic abuse that you may have to fight with the help of a lawyer:

• Physical Abuse: When most people think of domestic violence, they largely think of physical abuse. When one partner physically attacks another in any way, it may be considered domestic abuse. This can include hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, biting, shoving, burning, pulling hair, and even pinching. Any violent behavior that one partner exhibits over the other may be considered domestic violence. Physical abuse can also take the form of one partner denying medical treatment to another, forcing drug and/or alcohol abuse upon them, or physically injuring a child or stepchild.
• Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse in a domestic violence case can occur when one partner forces the other to have sexual intercourse with them without their express consent. Consent is always required, and sexual abuse can take the form of marital rape, sexual assault, forced sexual activity following physical violence or coercion, or being sexually demeaning towards an unwilling partner.
• Economic Abuse: Economic abuse is a form of domestic violence in which one partner forces or tries to force the other partner to be entirely financially dependent on them. This can create a powerful sense of control and leave the victim feeling financially helpless and unable to fight back. The abuser often uses fraud or manipulative tactics to restrict their partner’s access to their own financial resources, including bank accounts, credit cards, cash, valuable assets, or even basic financial information. Economic abuse can include withholding the victim’s access to their own accounts, exploiting power of attorney, taking out loans in the victim’s name, or exploiting guardianship or conservatorship roles.
• Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence in which one partner continuously undermines their partner’s sense of self-worth and makes them feel worthless or deflated. Destroying someone’s self-esteem in order to ensure they never leave you can be considered abuse. Emotional abuse can take many different forms, including name-calling, constant criticism, devaluing one’s contributions to the household, or damaging the partner’s relationship with their children, friends, and parents, among other behaviors. The goal is to emotionally break the victim so they feel their abuser is the only one on their side. Emotional abuse can be isolating and hard to pinpoint.
• Psychological Abuse: Psychological abuse is a form of domestic violence that is largely done by invoking fear through threats and intimidation. Psychological abuse seeks to mentally break the victim, often by engaging in erratic behaviors that lead the victim to constantly feel unsafe and unsure of their relationship. Psychological abuse can be inflicted by threatening suicide or murder, threatening to hurt the victim’s kids or pets, destroying the victim’s property, harming the victim’s pets on purpose, trespassing on the victim’s property, isolating the victim from their loved ones and friends, keeping the victim from leaving the house, or creating a sense of dread in the home.
• Technological Abuse: Technological abuse is a form of domestic violence that utilizes technology like social media and cell phones to cause harm to someone’s well-being. This can be done through cyberbullying, monitoring the victim’s location at all times, hacking their devices to read their texts or listen to their phone calls, or harassing them on social media with multiple accounts. Any form of threats, control, stalking, emotional harm, emotional blackmail, harassment, impersonation, or exploitation done through the use of a device can be considered technological abuse.
• Stalking: Stalking is a form of domestic violence that may include multiple traits of other forms of abuse, such as monitoring the victim’s location, online harassment, and physical intimidation. Some stalking behaviors may not technically be illegal on their own, but when combined with each other, they may form a pattern of disturbing behavior. Stalking is largely intended to emotionally and mentally disturb or frighten the intended victim.

Stalking behavior can include sending unwanted gifts, collecting information about the victim from friends or family, making unwanted phone calls, or sending unwanted texts to the victim despite being asked not to. Showing up unannounced at the victim’s home or workplace, spying, making threats, and cyberstalking via the internet are other forms of stalking.

Who Suffers From Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence does not just happen between spouses or partners. It can happen to anyone throughout your community. In North Carolina, one in three women and one in four men will have experienced some form of physical violence from their partner, while 35% of women and 30% of men will likely experience some form of stalking in their lifetime as well.

Domestic violence can be committed between:

• Dating partners
• Couples who are living together
• Co-parents
• Parents and their children
• Family members
• Former spouses

When dealing with domestic violence charges, it is important that you take the proper steps to protect yourself and your reputation by retaining the services of experienced legal counsel who can guide your case and make sure things are handled correctly.

FAQs

Q: Can You Sue for Emotional Abuse in North Carolina?

A: Yes, you can sue for emotional abuse in North Carolina, though it may not be easy to prove. Emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence that specifically targets the victim’s sense of self-worth. The victim needs to prove that the emotional abuse was intentional, which will require proof that the defendant was trying to inflict emotional pain on the victim. Depending on the case and the evidence, a victim may also be able to claim emotional abuse.

Q: How Much Is a Defense Attorney in North Carolina?

A: There’s no telling how much a defense attorney will cost in North Carolina, as every lawyer charges what they believe their services are worth to their clients. There is a large range of fees among lawyers. Some may charge hourly, while others may charge a flat rate or on a contingency basis. It depends entirely on the defense attorney you may be looking to hire and what they feel their services should cost.

Q: How Does Domestic Violence Work in North Carolina?

A: Under North Carolina state law, domestic violence is the act of committing one or more physically, emotionally, or mentally abusive acts upon someone close to you with the intention of causing them harm. Depending on the case and what the alleged perpetrator has been charged with, the consequences could be severe. Some domestic violence behaviors can be classified as felonies on their own, such as sexual assault or physical violence.

Q: How Long Do Most Domestic Violence Cases Last?

A: The length of a domestic violence case is entirely dependent on the case itself and the circumstances surrounding it. It depends on the amount of evidence that proves domestic violence, the strength of your lawyer’s negotiation skills, and the willingness of both parties to reach a compromise.

Reach Out to an Experienced Domestic Violence Attorney Today

Dealing with the fallout from a domestic violence charge can be an intimidating and confusing experience. Having a qualified lawyer on your side who understands your charges and is prepared to help you face them can change your outlook on the case.

The legal team at Steven T. Meier, PLLC, can be there to help you develop your defense, gather evidence that helps your case, and advocate on your behalf in court when the time comes. Contact our law office to schedule a consultation with a valued team member and learn how we can help you with your case.