How to Protect Your Children After a Domestic Violence Investigation

Posted on: November 6th, 2022 by Dod Law

Children look up to their parents for love, support, safety, and other vital needs. However, they also feel the negative impact of circumstances where a parent is accused of domestic violence. Despite this, there are safe and healthy ways to navigate through these delicate times and help protect your children from the varying effects of a domestic violence investigation.

If you have been accused of domestic violence by an intimate partner, spouse, or family member, you should understand how your children may be affected and how you can protect them. At Dod Law, our skilled legal team has ample experience navigating domestic violence cases and representing any individual under an domestic violence investigation.

How Can I Protect My Children After a Domestic Violence Investigation?

Domestic violence cases are taken very seriously in California. Protecting children from the legal proceedings and adverse effects of their parent’s arrest can be challenging when they are involved. Accusations of domestic violence within a home can affect children in many ways.

Some of the emotional and mental effects of domestic violence accusations for children in the home include:

• Depression
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety
• Aggressive behavior
• Suicidal thoughts
• Abusive patterns
• Confusion and Worry

If you are accused of domestic violence by an intimate partner or another family member, here are a few ways you may be able to help support your children throughout the process:

• Prioritize their safety by working with available resources to determine a safe custody arrangement for the time being.
• Be open to speaking about the accusation while avoiding the need to shift the blame on the other parent.
• Reassure your children that they do not have fault in these circumstances.
• Consider helping your child seek therapy or third-party counseling so they may be encouraged to speak freely about their experience.
• Utilize any of the state’s resources for your child’s safety and to maintain their routine.
• Explain to your children any custody arrangements and temporary changes that occur.

Seeing your children experience different mental and emotional effects of a parent’s arrest or accusations of domestic violence can be frightening. However, there are many ways to overcome these complex challenges. If you have been accused of harming your spouse or partner in any way, seeking an attorney’s help may help you face the accusations and build a solid case to benefit your future and your relationship with your children.

Understanding Custody Arrangements After Intimate Partner Violence Accusations

An unfortunate result of many domestic violence situations is the separation of children or their removal from a home. Sometimes, a parent is taken into custody, and children are sent to stay with a relative or other party. If you have been accused of domestic violence, a judge may place different restrictions on your custody rights affecting your ability to be around your children. Understandably, a judge decides to consider the safety of your children and how a custody hearing may impact their well-being.

Common types of custody arrangements in the interim of a domestic violence case:

• You may be permitted to see your children under supervised visitation and be responsible for covering the costs of these visits.
• In extreme circumstances, the judge may revoke your parental rights.

Shifting to new custody agreements after being accused of domestic violence can be challenging. Many parents feel the adverse effects of losing custodial rights, and children are dually affected. Whether you were wrongly accused or need help regaining a sense of normalcy after a violent altercation, our legal team may be able to help you. Proving domestic violence is challenging in any court case, and we can investigate all aspects of the circumstances regarding an accusation of violence.

Call Our Domestic Violence Lawyer at Dod Law for Experienced Legal Advice

Navigating through custody arrangements can look different in every case of domestic violence. Our understanding attorney has eighteen years of experience defending clients and providing legal resources within domestic violence cases in and out of a courtroom. Attorney Dod Ghassemkhani has experience in nearly every type of criminal case within seventy-five jury trials and four hundred preliminary hearings.

If you are accused of domestic violence and experiencing the challenges of navigating through the proceedings of a case, don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with our legal team to determine your legal options and the next steps to take. Complete a contact form or call our office at (619) 814-5110 to schedule a consultation at no cost.

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