Domestic violence is often a silent struggle for Californians. No one wants to show the ugly face of abuse to individuals that they encounter outside of their homes and so often they hide the pain and suffering that they endure so as to appear happy, confident and in control of their lives. However, it is often control that a domestic violence abuser seeks to ward over their victim and through that control an abuse may ruin their victim’s life.

Incidents of domestic violence generally happen between intimate partners, such as married individuals or individuals who hold each other out as significant others. In California, though, domestic violence laws apply broadly to relationships beyond those just mentioned as well as to relationships that have ended.

For example, in California domestic violence can occur between ex-spouses. It can occur between cohabitants of a residence or even former cohabitants of a residence. It can happen between individuals who are not in a relationship but who share a child and also between married partners and partners who are dating.

Domestic violence can be very different in different abuser-victim relationships. While some victims may endure physical or sexual abuse, others may struggle with mental and emotional attacks that reduce them to suffering. All victims may seek support and protection under the law, regardless of the way their abusers seek to control them.

In California the victim of domestic violence or abuse may seek a protective order to limit or eliminate their contact with their abuser. In order to learn more about protective orders and California’s domestic violence laws readers are encouraged to reach out to legal professionals that they know and trust.