Beverly Hills Domestic Violence Lawyer

Beverly Hills Domestic Violence Lawyers Ready to Help You & Your Family

Known for its luxury lifestyles and prestige, Beverly Hills is not immune to serious accusations of domestic violence. These situations impact both the accused and the victims alike and have a wide effect on the general community. From Rodeo Drive to the calm residential area of the Flats, domestic violence cases arise. Whether you are a victim seeking protection or stand accused, a Beverly Hills domestic violence lawyer can assert your rights.

For over 15 years, the team at Benefield Faulk Law has been supporting families and individuals who find themselves involved in domestic violence cases. If you are a victim of this abuse, our attorneys can assist you with seeking protective orders and represent you against your accuser. Conversely, if you are facing false allegations of domestic violence, let us navigate the legal system and fight for your rights.

Domestic violence is a complex issue faced by both men and women. Violence in the home or between current or previous romantic partners leads to repercussions and safety concerns. If someone has experienced domestic violence, taking legal action may be the only way to end the abuse once and for all. The idea of seeking the help of a domestic violence lawyer may be intimidating at first, but a knowledgeable attorney will be able to answer questions and help lift the burden of such an intense experience. With domestic violence lawyers in their corner, victims of physical abuse may be able to start over and begin rebuilding their lives.

Defining Domestic Violence in Beverly Hills

In 2023 alone, there were 103 emergency calls placed to seek assistance for a domestic violence altercation in Beverly Hills. Domestic abuse can have debilitating physical, psychological, and emotional consequences. Therefore, it is vital, whether you are the victim of such violence or stand falsely accused, that you know how California law defines domestic violence.

Learning the legal basis for these charges can help you better understand your rights and the legal process overall, offering you a higher chance at a favorable outcome to your case. Under state law, domestic violence is any kind of abuse perpetrated against an individual within a family or domestic circle. These parties can include the following:

• A married spouse or former spouse
• An unmarried partner or former partner
• A current or former girlfriend or boyfriend
• An adoptive family
• A parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or any other blood relative
• Any stepparents or other individuals now related by marriage
• Any individuals living under the same roof
• A child or stepchild

Domestic violence can take many forms. Often, we think of domestic violence as hitting, pushing, or other acts of physical abuse. While this is one way it can present itself, many other actions can also be considered domestic violence under California law. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Financial abuse. The abuser controls the finances in a way that hides property from the other partner or limits their access to funds. It can also be a refusal to share important financial information with a partner.
• Emotional abuse. Any name-calling, humiliating, blaming, shaming, belittling, or acts of emotional isolation are also forms of abuse.
• Physical violence. This form of domestic violence can include any punching, hitting, kicking, or slapping. Even threatening to cause physical harm is considered abusive. It can also include acts of stalking and sexual abuse or assault, ranging from nonconsensual kissing to full acts of rape.
• Isolation. In these instances, an abuser pressures a partner to cut off their friendships or any close relationships they may have with their family members. They may also discourage a spouse or partner from making any friends outside the main relationship or a certain group of people.
• Coercive control. Here, an abuser deprives an individual of food, clothing, water, or access to birth control. This kind of behavior works to humiliate the victim and/or intimidate them into submission. It can even threaten the victim’s life in more extreme instances.
• Psychological abuse. This can include any monitoring of the partner’s activities or devices, including invasions of their privacy or trying to control their daily schedule.

However, for these behaviors or actions to be considered domestic abuse or violence, the individual accused of these acts or behaviors needs to have a history of physical violence, intimidation, or threats of violence. This can include the following:

• Physical assault. Any actions of hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, hair-pulling, or shoving are included here. It can also involve striking another individual with an object, such as a household item (like a vase or television remote) or an actual weapon.
• Violent threats. These involve any verbal or written threats against the physical safety of the victim.
• Self-harm or threats of suicide. The abuser may engage in behaviors of self-harm or threatening to commit suicide, which they do to manipulate or control the victim.
• Property damage. An abuser may decide to destroy the victim’s personal property. Examples could be throwing objects, running into the victim’s vehicle, or punching walls.

What is a Domestic Violence Lawyer?

A domestic violence lawyer is an attorney with experience representing victims in court on behalf of their safety and best interests. Whether the violence was ongoing or a one-time event, domestic violence attorneys work with clients to represent them if the case requires legal counsel. Since this type of lawyer practices under the larger umbrella of family law, the lawyer may also represent clients in related legal issues, such as child custody or child support as it relates to the domestic violence case.

What Does a Domestic Violence Lawyer Do for Clients?

If a client is a victim, skilled domestic violence attorneys will perform certain duties while also advocating for the victim in court. In the event of domestic violence where the police become involved, the victim may choose to have a domestic violence attorney present during police questioning or while giving statements. Being the victim of domestic violence is an emotional and often traumatic event. In an emotionally fraught time, having an experienced domestic violence attorney present may help with tension and legal aspects that police are simply not trained to handle.

Aside from being the victim’s advocate during the initial reporting process, domestic violence lawyers may also assist clients in legal matters, such as negotiating the criminal charges, filing for a restraining order, and assisting with otherwise confusing paperwork during a stressful time. An attorney may also help a client avoid testifying (due to the emotional damage or safety concerns that testifying may pose) while seeing to it that the evidence is still presented in a court of law on behalf of the victim.

Domestic violence always involves more than one party. If a client has been accused of domestic violence, lawyers will advocate for their clients in a variety of ways, such as fighting for charges to be dropped, defending against a restraining order, and representing the client in court.

Is Domestic Violence a Crime?

Yes, domestic violence is considered a crime. It ranges from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the state, the charges issued, and the circumstances of the domestic violence case. Domestic violence, much like any other misdemeanor or felony, may lead to repercussions like fines, jail time, and a criminal record. A criminal record for a conviction in a domestic violence case may negatively impact an accused offender’s chances at future employment, housing, and other opportunities.

Is a Domestic Violence Lawyer Worth the Cost?

If a person is a victim of this type of violence, the cost of a domestic violence attorney may feel overwhelming in an already emotional and difficult time. Since this is such a troubling event in a person’s life, the decision to seek legal support from a domestic violence lawyer outweighs the cost of their services. It’s hard to put a price on personal safety, but attorney fees and court costs may be worth it to prevent the emotional, physical, and financial damages of another violent occurrence. In some of the worst-case scenarios, a repeated attack could lead to thousands of dollars in medical costs by way of hospitalization and physical therapy. The cost of the emotional damage is impossible to assign a dollar figure, but the impacts are long-lasting and far-reaching for most domestic violence victims.

Likewise, if you have been accused of domestic violence charges, the cost of a knowledgeable family lawyer in Beverly Hills is well worth the cost compared to the fines, conviction, jail time, and possible lost wages of not having a proper defense against the charges.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for a Domestic Violence Case?

A: How much an attorney might cost in a domestic violence case will vary. Since every case is different, so is the way in which an attorney will structure their fees. However, several factors commonly affect these cases, which can influence the final cost analysis, including the complexity and duration of the case and the lawyer’s experience.

Q: What If I Am Wrongly Accused of Domestic Violence in California?

A: If you have faced false allegations of domestic violence in Beverly Hills, our attorneys can help. Oftentimes, these false allegations will arise during a family law case, such as a divorce or child custody situation, when the accuser is trying to gain an advantage. An attorney understands how your very future is at stake, so they can work hard to fight for your rights and freedoms.

Q: What Are the Laws Pertaining to Domestic Violence in California?

A: In California, several laws and state codes were established to fight against domestic violence. Domestic battery is the illegal infliction of physical injury on an intimate partner, but visible injuries are not necessary for a conviction to be successful. California also allows victims to seek restraining orders to keep themselves or their children safe from an abuser.

Q: Are Men or Women More Likely to Be Victims of Domestic Abuse?

A: For years, it was thought that only women could be the victims of domestic abuse. However, we have begun to realize that this is simply not the case, and both men and women alike can be victims of domestic violence. In fact, it is believed that one in four women will be victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives, and one in nine men will face some type of abuse as well.

Can a Lawyer Help?

When dealing with violence between intimate partners, a lawyer may be the most reliable line of defense. Whether you are a victim or the accused, knowing your legal rights is always the first step. Contact us at (310) 271-7675 today and let us help you find justice.