This is what you need to know if you have been the victim of domestic violence or if you have been served with a petition for a temporary injunction relating to domestic violence.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.
Family Household Member
Family or household member means spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. With the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit. See Florida Statutes, Section 741.28.
Domestic Violence Injunction
Any family or household member who is either the victim of domestic violence or has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of any act of domestic violence, has standing in the circuit court to file a sworn petition for an injunction for protection against domestic violence.
A person’s right to petition for an injunction shall not be affected if the person has left a residence or household to avoid domestic violence.
A petition for an injunction for protection against domestic violence may be filed in the circuit where the petitioner currently or temporarily resides, where the respondent resides, or where the domestic violence occurred. See Florida Statutes, Section 741.30.
Consult an Attorney
If you have been the victim of domestic violence or if you have been served with a petition for a temporary injunction relating to domestic violence, you may hire an attorney to represent you in the matter. If you are a victim of domestic violence, contact a lawyer to discuss the possibility of filing a petition for a temporary injunction for domestic violence. If you have been served with a petition for a temporary injunction against domestic violence, contact a lawyer to discuss your options and any possible defenses to the petition. Consult with a qualified criminal defense attorney who can provide guidance based on the details of your situation.
