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Domestic Violence Lawyer Gold Coast Brisbane

How To Seek Help In A Domestic Violence Situation

In Australia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual violence from a previous or current cohabiting partner, and 1 in 4 women and 1 in 20 men have experienced emotional abuse from a current or previous cohabiting partner. Domestic violence of varying types is unacceptably common in Australia. Still, despite the prevalence, many people don’t know what to do if they or someone they love finds themselves in a violent relationship. If you need help from a domestic violence lawyer on the Gold Coast, Collective Family Law Group is here to support you. We’re here to guide you through the steps to seeking help and escaping a violent partner.

What Constitutes Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence can arise in several different shapes and forms, and men and women can be both perpetrators and victims of domestic violence. The Collective Family Law Group team has specialised training and qualifications as domestic violence lawyers on the Gold Coast. We can help you get the necessary legal protection you and your children need.

Domestic violence is perpetrated to give the abuser some sort of control. Whether it’s control over their victim’s body, well-being, or finances, abusers like to know their victims are dependent on them. The following are all examples of domestic violence.

  • Physical violence. This could be an assault to the body, destruction of property, driving dangerously, and threatening to harm.
  • Emotional abuse. If your partner undermines your self-esteem/self-worth, calls you names, threatens, insults, or isolates you, you may be suffering emotional abuse. This is typically the hardest form of abuse to detect, as it often happens behind closed doors and is difficult to prove.
  • Sexual abuse. This includes non-consensual sex, forceful sex, sex without protection, and sexually degrading a partner.
  • Social abuse. If your partner socially alienates you in social settings or controls who you see and speak to, this is a form of abuse.
  • Verbal abuse. Verbal humiliation, attacks on your personality and self-esteem, abusive texts, emails, and telling lies about you.
  • Economic abuse. Some partners take total control of the finances, restricting access to bank accounts and money, leaving their victim financially dependent on them.

How To Safely Seek Help

If you’re suffering domestic violence on the Gold Coast, there are several things you can do to find safety and support.

  • In an emergency, call 000. If you need immediate assistance, call 000 for the police and ambulance service. If you have a smartphone, you can usually use a shortcut to contact the emergency services immediately. For example, for iPhone users, you can press the lock button five times quickly, and an emergency SOS bar will appear for you to swipe. Make sure you know all the shortcuts on your phone so that you can act quickly.
  • Before you leave. Leaving a domestic violence situation is difficult, especially when you feel physically and emotionally exhausted from the ongoing abuse. It’s always best to have a plan in place to leave. Make sure you consider the following;
    • Find a safe place for you and your children. Whether that’s a friend or family member’s home or a shelter, make sure it’s somewhere you know you’ll be safe.
    • Only tell people you trust your plans. Tell a select group of family members or friends, so they know what’s happening. Make sure they know not to give anything away to your abuser.
    • Visit your GP. Get them to make a note of any physical evidence of abuse, so you have proof later.
    • Gather important documents and information. Get together documents such as birth certificates, passports, protection orders, licences, insurance policies, bank cards, medications, jewellery, and anything else you might need. If you cannot access these documents for whatever reason, ask the police to escort you back later to retrieve them.
  • After you leave. To make sure you and your children stay safe after leaving a domestic violence situation, it’s best to follow these precautions;
    • Keep a phone on you at all times. Have the numbers for various Gold Coast domestic violence services available.
    • Vary your typical routes. Take different routes to work, the school, the shops, and anywhere else your abuser may know you frequent.
    • Avoid your regular spots. If you have a favourite cafe, a local shopping centre, or a park where you usually walk your dog, try to avoid those places for a while.
    • Get a PO Box. If you’re worried about your abuser accessing your mail, redirect your mail to a PO Box so you can have extra peace of mind.
    • Talk to the bank. Some abusers make their victims financially dependent on them, preventing them from accessing any money. You need to go to the bank and get a separate account in your name to have financial freedom and security.
    • Tell relevant people not to let your abuser near you. Make sure your neighbours know this person doesn’t live with you so they can call the police if they’re seen near your property. Let your boss know not to give any information out about you and ask them what they can do to make sure you stay safe at work. Tell the teachers and principal at your child’s school that this person has protection orders out against them, and give them a list of people approved to collect your kids from school.
    • Attend a domestic violence support group. Get guidance, support, and advice from people who can relate to your experiences. You don’t have to face this situation alone.
  • Contact a domestic violence lawyer on the Gold Coast. Make sure you enlist the help of a solicitor who specialises in handling domestic violence cases so they can help you make the best decisions for you and your children. Collective Family Law Group is here to help you, and we want you to know you have our support every step of the way.

Why Choose Collective Family Law Group?

If you need a domestic violence lawyer on the Gold Coast you can trust, you can turn to Collective Family Law Group.

  • We strive to keep our services cost-effective. Quality legal advice shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive, which is why Collective Family Law Group are dedicated to efficient and prompt resolution of family law matters. We offer free initial consultations, fixed fee services, and deferred payments for exceptional cases, so you’ll understand the costs from the very beginning.
  • We understand your situation. Most of our clients are going through challenging times, so we do our best to offer compassionate support through the family law process. Our family lawyers will take the time to listen to your story and provide you with the best advice for your unique situation.
  • We practice exclusively in family law. Many of our associates and senior lawyers at Collective Family Law Group have specialised exclusively in family law, giving them a unique edge over other law professionals in the industry. They’re passionate about delivering accurate, high-quality legal advice that you can rely on.
  • Our results speak for themselves. We measure our results on the feedback we receive from our clients, as their happiness is our priority. We’re armed with the legal and practical knowledge to see you through a difficult time as simply and easily as possible.
  • There’s not much we can’t do. From separation, divorce, and parenting matters to property settlement, binding financial agreements, and domestic violence, our legal team are experienced in all areas of family law.

If You Need A Gold Coast Domestic Violence Lawyer, Collective Family Law Group Can Help

At Collective Family Law Group, our practice focuses exclusively on family law matters. We’re industry experts in all matters of family law, including but not limited to matters of separation, property settlement, domestic violence, financial agreements, divorce, and child support. We strive to provide quality legal services with a resolution-focused approach to our clients’ needs, and our team offer practical legal advice and solutions in a professional, approachable manner. If you need a domestic violence lawyer on the Gold Coast, contact Collective Family Law Group today.