Beverly Hills Domestic Violence Attorney

Sadly, abusive relationships are particularly hard to escape. And while they are most difficult for the victim, they can also impact others — especially if there are children involved.

If you have become a victim of domestic violence, our experienced lawyers want to help. At Feinberg & Waller, APC, we help victims break the cycle of abuse. We know how harmful, disorienting, and terrifying domestic violence and abuse can be, which is why we work so hard to help our clients out of it.

When you’re ready, call (805) 273-8658 to learn more about how we can help in a confidential consultation.

What Is Domestic Violence?

Under California law, “domestic violence” refers to a type of abuse perpetrated against someone within your domestic circle:

• Married spouse
• Unmarried partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Girlfriend or boyfriend
• Parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, or other blood relative
• Stepparents and others related by marriage
• Adoptive family

Anyone can be the victim of domestic abuse. It is never the victim’s fault.

Types of Domestic Abuse

When most people think of domestic abuse, they think of physical violence. Physical abuse is certainly a type of domestic abuse, but it isn’t the only kind.

Domestic violence includes but is not limited to:

• Punching, hitting, kicking, slapping, or other physical harm
• Emotional abuse and manipulation
• Threatening to harm others, especially your loved ones
• Stalking and harassment
• Sexual abuse and assault, from nonconsensual kissing to completed rape
• Coercive control, which involves isolating the victim and depriving them of food, water, clothing, birth control (reproductive coercion). The point of coercive control is to frighten or punish the victim through humiliation, intimidation, threats, and/or assault.

How to Spot Domestic Violence and Abuse

It can be difficult to spot domestic violence, especially when you are the victim. Knowing about the cycle of abuse can help victims identify domestic violence. It can also help their loved ones understand why it’s so hard to leave an abusive relationship.

The four stages of the cycle of abuse are:

• Tension building: This is when the tension builds before the abusive act. It can feel like you are walking on eggshells, or doing anything you can to try to avoid an argument. You may feel fearful, notice a lack of communication from the abuser, etc.
• Incident: The incident is the act of domestic violence itself — physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, etc.
• Reconciliation: This is when the abuser tries to reconcile with the victim, such as by making excuses, blaming the victim, pretending the abuse never even happened, or apologizing.
• Calm: Also known as the honeymoon phase, the calm stage is when the relationship seems like a happy one — that is, until the cycle of abuse starts all over again.

If this sounds familiar to you, know you aren’t alone. In addition to getting an attorney, you may find it helpful to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

How Our Family Law Firm Can Help

At Feinberg & Waller, APC, our Beverly Hills domestic violence attorneys help victims navigate:

• Leaving or divorcing an abusive partner;
• Protecting their children from the abuser, such as with a new or modified child custody order;
• Getting a domestic violence restraining order (DVRO);
• Enforcing or challenging a prenuptial/postnuptial agreement;
• And more!

Our team will tailor our approach to your specific case. We take great care to support victims at every single step of the way, making their and their children’s safety a top priority.

Contact a Beverly Hills domestic violence lawyer online for compassionate legal help. We serve clients throughout Los Angeles County and across Southern California.