No rational person believes that domestic violence should go unpunished. Abuse between partners and spouses is a terrible thing, and deserves to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Yet what if you have been accused without committing the crime? In the state of Florida, a conviction for domestic battery can have serious consequences on virtually every aspect of your life. If your criminal record shows you are a domestic batterer, it may affect where you work, where you live, as well as your general social standing and reputation in the community.
Nowhere is the fallout from domestic battery accusations more apparent than in a divorce case. If the wrong judge ends up handling your case, the mere suggestion of domestic violence could end up losing you everything in divorce proceedings. This is why it is important to hire a skilled attorney, who will be able to help you get in front of domestic battery accusations, and make sure you don’t end up serving time in jail or having your reputation destroyed in a messy divorce.
In the state of Florida, accusations of domestic battery can impact your divorce in the following areas:
- Child Custody & Visitation: Your ability to have partial custody of even spend time with your children is likely to be greatly affected by domestic battery chargers, with many judges even refusing to grant you supervised visitation at the suggestion you are a domestic abuser.
- Alimony & Child Support: While most judges will not take child support and spousal support, also known as alimony, into consideration when looking at domestic violence charges, in some cases, you could end up paying more if the judge believes your behavior significantly impacted the well-being of your spouse or child. That is to say, if a judge believes your behavior was abusive enough that your spouse or child will have a hard time starting over, they may force you to pay higher amounts of support. This is especially worth taking into consideration in high net worth divorces, where there is more at stake.
- Assets: While assets are supposed to be divided fairly in the state of Florida, they may not necessarily be divided evenly depending on the circumstances of a divorce. While most judges will not look at domestic battery as a direct reason to award one spouse more property, they may examine the long-term effects of domestic battery, and side with the accuser out of sympathy in dividing assets.
- Settlements: Similarly to dividing assets, certain judges may award higher settlements to victims of domestic abuse, if they believe they require more to begin a new life.
Stay Protected, Hire a Lawyer Today
At Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto, P.A., our Clearwater criminal defense attorneys are here to listen to your side of the story. We believe that everyone deserves a chance at a fair trial, regardless of what they have been accused of. Don’t let domestic battery accusations leave you with nothing in the wake of a divorce. Fight for your rights, and call Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto, P.A. today.
Dial (727) 245-9009 now to schedule an appointment, or fill out our contact form online.
