It may surprise you to learn more than 12 million women and men are abused by a spouse, domestic partner, or significant other in the United States each year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. How could domestic violence affect a Louisville divorce? If you or someone you love has been physically or emotionally abused and is considering a divorce, worried about the children, or just looking for accurate advice on these matters, the divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd have decades of experience and are prepared to assist.
Domestic violence issues and concerns often involve financial matters as well. The first objective is to make sure you and your child(ren) are safe. Once that is accomplished, bigger questions begin to come into focus. If you are considering a divorce, one of your questions should be, “How could domestic violence affect a Louisville divorce?”
Our Louisville and Jefferson County Family Court is required by Kentucky family law to consider every aspect of a divorce, including the violent behavior of any spouse and/or parent. The presence of past or present domestic violence or erratic behavior will absolutely impact discussions surrounding child custody and visitation matters. In some cases, the Judge may order supervised visitation for violent offenders, as well as those facing behavioral or addiction-related issues. The best interests of the child are a primary concern in these Kentucky family law cases.
How could domestic violence affect a Louisville divorce in other aspects of the divorce? Violence that results in damage to the house or furnishings, vehicles, or other expenses that take money out of the marital funds is a valid reason to request additional consideration during property division to ensure an equitable division financially. There are also laws that guide our Family Court Judges when considering a request for spousal support or maintenance from a perpetrator of violence. Past actions of domestic violence can affect these issues for up to 5 years in most cases.
The attorneys of Dodd & Dodd have always worked to protect our clients, especially in divorce, child custody and family law issues involving domestic violence. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and the legal industry and contact Dodd & Dodd or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys.
