GSRM Law has been representing the victims of domestic abuse in the courtroom for decades. We understand the sensitive nature of these cases and the overwhelming feelings that abuse brings, especially when children are involved. That’s why we treat every case with the sensitivity it deserves. We will be your voice in the courtroom and ensure your abuser will never hurt you or your children again.

Domestic Violence

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of physical violence committed by an intimate partner. There were 78,100 domestic violence offenses reported to the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System in 2016. Anyone can tell you that these numbers are far too high, and domestic assault is too common today.

Domestic abuse is someone trying to gain and maintain control over their partner. It is not necessarily just a physical act — it can be sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological, sometimes all at once. The behavior can range from manipulation, terrorizing, threatening, and even injuring someone, all to assert authority over someone else, often due to a misguided belief or personal entitlement. The worst part of domestic violence crimes are the feelings of shame, guilt, loneliness, and fear that domestic violence situations can cause in the abused individual. The overwhelming feeling of failure is a large part of why a victim stays in many domestic violence cases.

Protection from Domestic Abusers

In Tennessee, domestic violence is a crime. When a domestic violence victim finally is able to escape their abuser, the decision is never an easy one to make. It may even take law enforcement intervention for you to finally be able to get away from an abusive situation. We understand that getting away from an abusive situation takes an immense amount of courage. In many cases of abuse, there is now a legal matter to be pursued, and you require legal services and an attorney to help get your life back.

Protection Order

If you are a victim, your first course of action is to obtain a protective order. Better known as a restraining order, this protection order will force an individual to stay a certain distance away from you and anyone else you listed in the protection order. It will remain in effect for up to one year but can be extended. If your abuser violates that order, it will be extended to up to five years for the first violation and ten years for the second. These orders can include you, your children, and any friends or family members you think may become targets once you have left.

Other Orders That You Can Obtain

You can also obtain temporary child custody, especially when the violence turns from spousal abuse to child abuse. The parental rights of your abuser could be terminated due to a domestic violence case and domestic violence-related crimes. A domestic violence charge will be used as a basis for deciding child custody. This is especially true in certain circumstances where the violence has negatively affected the children involved. An experienced domestic violence attorney can help you make a claim to the family home, even if you have to leave in order to find help. In domestic cases, GSRM Law has Nashville domestic violence lawyers who can give you the personal attention you deserve and the support to fight back against the assault and violence that has enveloped you for too long.

Finding Your Voice After Abuse

The factor that makes a domestic violence attorney different from other attorneys is the ability to comprehend what a domestic violence victim is actually dealing with. The emotional consequences of domestic violence are hard for anyone who has never been through this experience to understand. We know the pain and anguish that come from this stressful situation, and we can truly empathize with the fragmented and confused state that the domestic assault can leave you in.

It’s Okay to Ask For Help

Domestic violence attorneys at our law firm know that asking for help is a terrifying experience. Our domestic violence lawyers are here when you need them and when you need someone you can truly rely on. We will be supportive and caring, and your domestic violence attorney will help you get past the physical and emotional abuse you may have suffered.

Proving Domestic Violence

Even with physical evidence, it can be difficult to prove domestic violence. This can be hard on a family and can make a victim feel as if no one is on their side. You don’t have to face these legal issues all alone. Your lawyer will help provide the legal representation you need as they help find the ways you can prove your claim. Your lawyers will work to:

• Get Witnesses: Ask neighbors, family members, friends, and anyone who has seen or heard your fighting and is willing to testify on your behalf in court.
• Court Records: Did you file a restraining order? Were domestic violence charges brought against the abuser before? This can help in proving domestic violence in the relationship.
• Police Reports: It may also be possible that a helpful neighbor called the police to report an argument. Any time the police have shown up at your door, a report has been filed. The police can also be used as a witness and testify about what the officer saw or heard.
• Hospital Records: With domestic violence, there are often records of personal injury that have occurred as a result of the violence. These can corroborate your story and can show the true extent of domestic violence by showing evidence of serious physical abuse.
• Victim Testimony: You can testify on your behalf to explain the years of abuse you have endured. Often the court will accept a letter if you are too afraid to show your face in the courtroom in front of your abuser. Contact Our Domestic Violence Lawyers

Our domestic violence attorneys will help you get a protective order, obtain sole custody of your children, and ensure divorce proceedings are underway. Our lawyers know the law relating to domestic violence, and they can help victims of violence find a way to be free from abuse.

If you are a domestic violence victim in Nashville, now is the time to act. Our Nashville domestic violence attorneys are here when you need a lawyer to help prove your domestic violence case.