Chattanooga Domestic Violence Attorneys

Protecting the Accused & the Accuser

Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects many families in Tennessee. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you may be able to obtain a protective order to keep the abuser away from you and your children. If you have been accused of domestic violence, you may be facing criminal charges and a restraining order. In either case, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side.

At Conner & Roberts, PLLC, we represent clients on both sides of domestic violence cases. Our Chattanooga domestic violence lawyers can help you understand your rights and options and work to protect your interests throughout the legal process.

Call (423) 299-4489 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation with a domestic violence lawyer near you.

What Is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, education, religion, or sexual orientation. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating.

What Is Considered Domestic Violence in Tennessee?

Under Tennessee law, domestic violence is defined as an act of violence or threats of violence against a person with whom the offender has an intimate relationship. This includes current or former spouses, people who live together or have lived together, people who are dating or have dated, people who are related by blood or marriage, and people who have a child together.

Acts that are considered domestic violence in Tennessee include:

• Assault
• Aggravated assault
• Sexual assault
• Aggravated sexual assault
• Stalking
• Aggravated stalking
• Kidnapping
• False imprisonment
• Invasion of privacy
• Harassment
• Coercion
• Intimidation of a witness

Domestic violence is a serious crime in Tennessee. If you are convicted of domestic violence, you may face jail time, fines, probation, mandatory counseling, and other penalties. Additionally, a domestic violence conviction can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life, making it difficult to find employment, secure housing, and maintain relationships.

What Is a Protective Order?

A protective order, also known as a restraining order, is a legal order issued by a judge that is intended to protect a person from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. In Tennessee, there are several types of protective orders that are available to victims of domestic violence.

The different types of protective orders in Tennessee include:

• Order of protection
• Temporary order of protection
• Emergency order of protection
• Ex parte order of protection

An order of protection is a legal order that is intended to protect a person from domestic abuse. An order of protection can be issued by a judge in a civil court and is separate from any criminal charges that may be filed against the abuser. An order of protection can be issued against a current or former spouse, a person with whom the victim has a child, a person with whom the victim is dating or has dated, a person with whom the victim lives or has lived, or a relative of the victim.

An order of protection can require the abuser to:

• Stop abusing the victim
• Stay away from the victim's home, school, or work
• Move out of the victim's home
• Stay away from the victim's children
• Pay child support
• Pay spousal support
• Pay the victim's attorney's fees

An order of protection can also grant the victim temporary custody of the children, require the abuser to attend counseling, and require the abuser to surrender any firearms. An order of protection can be issued on a temporary basis and can be made permanent after a hearing. If the abuser violates the order of protection, he or she can be arrested and charged with a crime.

Temporary Order of Protection

A temporary order of protection is a legal order that is intended to protect a person from domestic abuse. A temporary order of protection can be issued by a judge in a civil court and is separate from any criminal charges that may be filed against the abuser. A temporary order of protection can be issued against a current or former spouse, a person with whom the victim has a child, a person with whom the victim is dating or has dated, a person with whom the victim lives or has lived, or a relative of the victim.

A temporary order of protection can also grant the victim temporary custody of the children, require the abuser to attend counseling, and require the abuser to surrender any firearms. A temporary order of protection can be issued without a hearing and can be in effect for up to 15 days. After a temporary order of protection is issued, a hearing will be scheduled to determine if a permanent order of protection should be issued. If the abuser violates the temporary order of protection, he or she can be arrested and charged with a crime.

Emergency Order of Protection

An emergency order of protection is a legal order that is intended to protect a person from domestic abuse. An emergency order of protection can be issued by a judge in a civil court and is separate from any criminal charges that may be filed against the abuser. An emergency order of protection can be issued against a current or former spouse, a person with whom the victim has a child, a person with whom the victim is dating or has dated, a person with whom the victim lives or has lived, or a relative of the victim.

An emergency order of protection can also grant the victim temporary custody of the children, require the abuser to attend counseling, and require the abuser to surrender any firearms. An emergency order of protection can be issued without notice to the abuser and can be in effect for up to 72 hours. After an emergency order of protection is issued, a hearing will be scheduled to determine if a temporary order of protection should be issued. If the abuser violates the emergency order of protection, he or she can be arrested and charged with a crime.

Ex Parte Order of Protection

An ex parte order of protection is a legal order that is intended to protect a person from domestic abuse. An ex parte order of protection can be issued by a judge in a civil court and is separate from any criminal charges that may be filed against the abuser. An ex parte order of protection can be issued against a current or former spouse, a person with whom the victim has a child, a person with whom the victim is dating or has dated, a person with whom the victim lives or has lived, or a relative of the victim.

An ex parte order of protection can also grant the victim temporary custody of the children, require the abuser to attend counseling, and require the abuser to surrender any firearms. An ex parte order of protection can be issued without notice to the abuser and can be in effect for up to 15 days. After an ex parte order of protection is issued, a hearing will be scheduled to determine if a temporary order of protection should be issued. If the abuser violates the ex parte order of protection, he or she can be arrested and charged with a crime.

How Long Does a Domestic Violence Case Last?

The length of a domestic violence case can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case. In some cases, a domestic violence case can be resolved in a matter of weeks. In other cases, a domestic violence case can take several months or longer to resolve. If you are facing domestic violence charges, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side who can help you navigate the legal process and work to protect your rights and future.

How Can I Get a Domestic Violence Charge Dropped?

If you have been accused of domestic violence, you may be wondering how you can get the charges dropped. In Tennessee, only the prosecutor can drop domestic violence charges. However, an experienced attorney can help you build a strong defense and work to get the charges reduced or dismissed.

Some possible defenses to domestic violence charges include:

• You were acting in self-defense
• You were falsely accused
• The evidence against you is weak or insufficient
• The police violated your rights

If you have been accused of domestic violence, it is important to take the charges seriously. A domestic violence conviction can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life, making it difficult to find employment, secure housing, and maintain relationships. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and options and work to protect your interests throughout the legal process.

How Can a Domestic Violence Attorney Help?

If you are a victim of domestic violence, an attorney can help you obtain a protective order to keep the abuser away from you and your children. If you have been accused of domestic violence, an attorney can help you understand your rights and options and work to protect your interests throughout the legal process.

An attorney can help you by:

• Explaining the law and how it applies to your case
• Helping you understand your rights and options
• Helping you obtain a protective order
• Representing you in court
• Building a strong defense on your behalf
• Negotiating with the prosecution to get the charges reduced or dismissed
• Helping you get the help and support you need

At Conner & Roberts, PLLC, we are committed to providing our clients with the compassionate and effective legal representation they deserve. We understand the serious nature of domestic violence cases and are prepared to fight aggressively for you.

Are you a domestic violence survivor or were you falsely accused of DV? Call (423) 299-4489 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation with domestic violence lawyer near you.