Family Violence is a very serious matter, unfortunately anywhere from 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 and even 1 in 2 Australian women will experience physical or sexual violence by a man, usually with whom they have been intimate with, at some point in their lives.
Family and Divorce Lawyers needs to be aware and sensitive to the needs of women in these situations and provide family law advice that is protective, practical and protective.
At Cominos Family Lawyers, our lawyers are trained in family violence and attend seminars and workshops to keep them abreast of all changes.
What is Family Violence?
There appears to be a general acceptance that family violence falls broadly into the following four categories:
Coercive controlling violence – this a pattern of controlling, threatening and intimidating behaviour, such as demanding that a woman make herself available and explain herself to her partner of her whereabouts at all times, accusations of the woman having affairs, threatening to physically harm the woman or her children if she behaves in ways that her partner is not agreeable to. It can involve constant phone texting or calling at all hours of the day or night, interrogating the children, keeping the woman financially dependent and socially isolated from her family and friends.
Violent Resistance – this is the situation, where a woman, will use force and physical violence to resist the abusive behaviour of her partner. It is an immediate reaction to an assault by her partner and it is intended to protect the woman and her loved ones from injury.
Situational Couple Violence – this involves a form of violence that does not stem from a pattern of power, coercion or control. Rather this is a situation where a couple in argument, use physical violence against each other, such as pushing, shoving, grabbing each other.