Louisville Domestic Violence Lawyer

In cases of family law, such as divorce or child custody, tensions can arise quickly between the couple, and domestic violence allegations can be the result. Whether you are the victim of domestic violence from an incident at your home in Lyndon, or you have been falsely accused of domestic violence by a spouse or ex-partner, you need to hire a Louisville domestic violence lawyer who can advocate for your rights and your safety and bring the truth to light.

You Can Trust Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC

For over three decades, the team at Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC has been helping families through the difficulties of many legal matters, including matters of domestic violence. We are experienced with handling cases in Jefferson County and throughout the state, and are ready to take on your case. Allow us to use this experience to our advantage in your case. Your rights can be protected with us.

At Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, we understand how a simple misunderstanding can quickly escalate into allegations of domestic violence. We also know how scary it can feel when actions of domestic violence are taken against you, and we want to do everything in our power to protect you and your loved ones.

With lawyers who have been named KY Super Lawyers Rising Stars and Best Lawyers of Family Law, we are here for you.

Defining Domestic Violence in Louisville

In Kentucky, allegations of domestic violence during a family law matter are all too common. The state sees a divorce rate of 2.9 for every 1,000 residents, and while not every case will involve accusations of abuse, many can.

When domestic violence does become involved—either in a real and harmful way, or through false accusations to harm the accused party or gain custody rights—you need an attorney who can protect you and guide you through the various steps of your case.

Every year, more than 12 million men and women unfortunately are affected by intimate partner violence in the United States, and around 32 people experience some form of physical abuse by an intimate partner every minute.

Domestic violence is a serious crime, and whether you believe you are a victim or you have been accused of abuse, it is important to understand how Kentucky defines domestic violence and abuse. It can include the following actions or behaviors between family members, intimate partners, or individuals who used to be in a relationship with one another:

• Any kind of physical injury
• Stalking an individual or their family members
• Assaulting an individual
• Inflicting the fear of imminent harm or danger on a person
• Emotional abuse, such as isolating from friends and family or punishing by withholding affection
• Financial abuse, such as controlling access to money, or refusing to allow money for simple needs like groceries or utility bills

Financial abuse, such as controlling access to money, or refusing to allow money for simple needs like groceries or utility bills

Financial abuse, such as controlling access to money, or refusing to allow money for simple needs like groceries or utility bills

For victims of domestic violence, an attorney may be able to help you pursue an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) or a Domestic Violence Order (DVO). An EPO or DVO can offer you and your loved ones various protections, depending on the nature of the abuse you have suffered. These protections include:

• Preventing your alleged abuser from taking part in any actions or behaviors against you and your loved ones
• Ordering your abuser to stay a certain distance away from you
• Keeping your abuser from having any kind of contact with you, including through the telephone, by mail, over the internet, through a third-party, or face-to-face
• Requiring your abuser to leave the home you share together
• Offering you full temporary custody of your children
• Ordering your abuser to stay away from any specific school, place of employment, or residence.

Common Domestic Violence Defense Strategies

In divorce cases or cases involving child custody, one party may be tempted to falsely accuse the other party of domestic violence to gain an upper hand in the case. When these unfortunate situations occur, you need to hire a lawyer who can ensure the truth is brought to light. At Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, our attorneys can review your case and help determine which defense strategy is right for you, including:

• Lack of intent. Your attorney may be able to argue that you lacked the intent to commit an act of domestic violence based on the evidence available in your case. If you did not actually intend to harm the supposed victim, such as in cases where you did not think your actions would actually cause them hurt, then you may be able to use this as your defense.
• Self-defense or defense of others. If you believed you were acting to protect yourself or a loved one, such as a child, from an act or threat of imminent harm, then you may be able to use this as your defense.
• False accusations. When a misunderstanding or miscommunication escalates, especially in cases adjacent to family law, one of the parties may try to falsely accuse the other of domestic violence to gain favor in the eyes of the court. If this is the case, our attorneys can work to gather supporting evidence to prove that you did not actually commit the abuse you have been accused of.

Hire a Domestic Violence Lawyer Today

If you find yourself falsely accused of domestic violence or the victim of abuse in Louisville, you need to hire a domestic violence lawyer who can protect you and your rights. At Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, our attorneys can work to gather evidence and witness statements to help you defend against allegations or seek the protective order you need. Contact our offices today to learn more about how we can help.