Domestic Violence Attorney in Manhattan

Need a Protective Order in Manhattan, Queens & Brooklyn? We Can Help!

Any family that has dealt with domestic violence issues is in a fragile state. Courts always consider a criminal record when determining custody and visitation arrangements, and whether the accused parent's rights to their children may be in jeopardy. When you need a lawyer with experience handling family law cases involving domestic violence in NYC, the Law Office of Julio E. Portilla, P.C. will stand by you and fight on your behalf.

Call us today at (917) 909-6166 so that our compassionate domestic violence lawyer in Manhattan can give you the defense you need.

How Is Domestic Violence Defined?

Many people assume that domestic violence is only physical. In reality, there are several different types of domestic violence, ranging from verbal, emotional, and mental abuse, all of which cause terrible short-term and long-term consequences. Sometimes, what begins as non-physical abuse can result in physical violence, sometimes even leading to murder.

In many cases, women tend to be major victims in domestic cases of abuse; however, men have also been victims both in opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. The crucial thing to remember is that the first step in escaping a domestic violence relationship is that you must recognize the situation for what it truly is – abuse.

A few examples of circumstances which would be considered cases of domestic violence include times where:

• You are being threatened by your partner or family member to behave in a certain manner or face the consequences. Such threats could include them warning they will hurt you, abandon you, or commit suicide if you do not do what they want.
• Your abuser alternatively tries to minimize, justify, or completely deny abuse has taken place or even blames you for causing the violence to occur.
• You are being abused sexually, whether that means you are raped, forced to perform sexual actions when you are unwilling, or are being treated either physically or verbally as a sexual object.
• You are being shut off and isolated from seeing friends and family, or being controlled and manipulated into only seeing certain people.
• Your partner or family member is engaging in emotional violence against you, either by humiliating or embarrassing you, forcing you to have low esteem or self-hatred, or attempting to make you feel like you are either guilty or mentally insane.
• You are being abused economically, including being blocked from earning your own income or being forced to ask for an allowance.
• You are being intimidated either through physical or verbal violence, and have had your belongings and property stolen, damaged, or destroyed.