Carlsbad Domestic Violence Attorneys

Legal Representation For Victims Of Domestic Violence And Assault In San Diego County

At Griffith, Young & Lass, our goal is to provide clients who’ve experienced domestic violence and/or assault with a safe environment in which to pursue the appropriate legal action needed to keep them and the rest of their family members safe.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please contact our GYL attorneys as soon as possible. Backed by years of experience and the expertise of two certified family law specialists, we excel in helping victims of domestic violence and abuse reclaim their lives, safety and sense of well-being.

The sooner you involve our team, the sooner we can arrange for a temporary restraining order to be placed against your abuser. We can also represent you in family court for emergency child custody orders within 48 hours. Call us at 858-951-1526 or contact us online via our message form.

The Scope Of Domestic Violence

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another… Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma and sometimes death.”

Abusive behaviors often start small (possessiveness, accusations, name-calling, general distrust), making it difficult for victims to want, or even know, to take action. Furthermore, they are often quickly followed by acts of love and/or remorse for what was done; again, making it difficult for victims to want to take action. However, when the violent and controlling actions escalate, you can – and must – take action to protect yourself and any young ones in the household.

Meet Our Domestic Violence Attorney

Honest. Fearless. Bold.

Lea Trojanowski, Esq.AssociateLea Trojanowski is an attorney with Griffith, Young & Lass, joining the firm in March 2021. Her pragmatic and level-headed approach to family law has allowed her to be successful in even the most emotional family law cases. Lea has effectively represented clients in a wide range of family law proceedings but is particularly drawn to domestic violence restraining order cases.
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Reasons to involve a domestic violence attorney include but are not limited to:

Destroying your personal property
Threatening or intentionally scaring you
Forcing sex and/or refusing to use protection
Stalking or closely monitoring your every move
Using the threat of weapons to intimidate or scare you
Controlling what you wear, who you see and where you go
Intentionally jeopardizing your performance at work or school
Forcing you to do something you don’t want to, like using drugs
Preventing you from attending work, school or other obligations
Discouraging, or downright preventing, you from seeing family and friends
Threatening to hurt, kill or otherwise harm your friends, loved ones or pets
Embarrassing or shaming you in front of friends and family or while out in public
Controlling your money and expenditures to the point of counting every penny

What Are The Types Of Domestic Violence?

There are many types of abuse that can be prosecuted as domestic violence, including physical abuse of one partner against another in Carlsbad and throughout the United States. However, physical abuse is not the only type of abuse that can be prosecuted as domestic violence:

Physical – Hitting, slapping, pulling hair, kicking, choking, forcing other people to take drugs or drink alcohol.
Emotional – A person who abuses their emotions calls the other person names, insults them or criticizes them, acts jealous or possessive, or humiliates them.
Sexual – Having the other person held down during sex, making them dress in a sexual manner, and pressuring them to engage in sex are all forms of sexual abuse and coercion.
Coercive reproductive methods – Refusing to use condoms or birth control, lying about using birth control and keeping the other person pregnant.
Financial – An abuser closely monitors the other person’s spending, steals money from the other person and stops the other person from working.
Digital – An example of digital abuse would be sending threatening or insulting messages, monitoring the other person’s activities with GPS and frequently looking through their phone.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. Domestic violence takes many forms – physical, mental, psychological and emotional – all of which can be incredibly damaging, if not deadly. Don’t wait for it to get worse before reaching out for help.

Domestic violence can be found in every gender, race, nationality, religion, age, sexual orientation and economic status. If you were abused, there is NO shame in seeking help. We will be here to support, guide and protect you at every step of the way. Contact GYL online or by dialing: 858-951-1526.

If you’ve already been attacked, seek medical attention from your doctor or hospital emergency room as soon as possible. During your visit, ask the staff to photograph your injuries and keep detailed records in case you decide to take legal action.

What Are The Penalties For Domestic Violence In California?

A person who harms or threatens to harm an intimate partner or member of their household violates California’s domestic violence laws and may face criminal charges. Penal Code $273.5 carries a maximum fine of $6,000 and/or one year in county jail if it is prosecuted as a misdemeanor. An offense of corporal injury, which is prosecuted as a felony, carries a sentence of two, three or four years in state prison plus five more years if the offense inflicts “great bodily injury.” In California, domestic battery is a misdemeanor domestic violence offense, punishable by up to $2,000 in fines and one year in county jail.

In addition to fines and jail time, Carlsbad domestic violence convictions can lead to mandatory counseling, community service, probation, anger management and abuse classes, as well as payments to victims and battered women’s organizations. As a result of their conviction, defendants who are not U.S. citizens may also face immigration consequences, including deportation. It is possible for an officer in Carlsbad to request an emergency protective order if he or she is called to the scene of a domestic dispute. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the order can be either a temporary restraining order or a permanent restraining order. It is criminal to violate a domestic violence restraining order, punishable by jail time, a significant fine or both.

We’ll Help You File A Restraining Order And Take Legal Action Against Your Abuser

Our Carlsbad domestic violence lawyers at GYL promise to make you and your family’s safety our No. 1 priority. Domestic violence should be reported immediately, and we can help you do that if you haven’t been able to yet. We will also help guide you and your family along the path to recovery and ensure your legal protection along the way.

In cases where you need immediate legal help, we can accommodate same-day appointments. We will also make ourselves available after hours – including nights and weekends – if that’s the safest and easiest time for you to meet with our team. We want to help you through this, and we are prepared to do everything in our power to keep you and your loved ones safe.