How Can a Restraining Order Help?
If your spouse is pathologically violent and abusive, a restraining order will not help nearly as much as a safe house. But if the abuse is relatively mild, a restraining order should suffice. Restraining orders are court decrees that require the abusive individual to stay a certain distance away from the victim. If the individual violates the order, then he or she can be taken to jail and criminally charged. Not only is the abusive individual ordered away from you, but he or she will also be ordered away from your home and (at least temporarily) your children. Some abusive individuals are not effectively deterred by the threat of criminal charges, but most are. When the couple has had a chance to spend time apart, they are often in a much better mindset to be able to communicate effectively about their relationship and, in almost every case, their impending divorce. If you would like to learn more about restraining orders and your options for dealing with domestic violence, an attorne
