Have you been falsely accused of domestic violence? Often times, especially in cases such as child custody disputes and litigious divorce settlements, a spouse will make false claims of domestic violence in order to defame the other spouse or gain the upper hand in negotiations. In such cases, it’s crucial to remain calm and try to settle the false accusations through a lawyer.
What to Do if Accused of Domestic Violence
If you do not already have an attorney that you are working with, hire one that will be able to respond to and defend you against these false allegations. If you are going through a divorce settlement, or a child custody dispute, your lawyer might be able to defend you against these accusations, or at least be able to recommend a lawyer that will be able to defend you.
Stay Away from the Accuser
Your lawyer should be able to obtain an evidentiary hearing that will present evidence that you have been falsely accused. Until this has happened, stay away from the accuser. Hopefully the evidentiary hearing will be able to clear you of the allegations. In cases where you are forced to come into contact with the accuser – perhaps because of shared children, or other negotiations, remain calm, and make sure there is always a third party present that can serve as a witness to your interactions.
If you still need to communicate with the accuser, remove all emotion from your messages – stick to the facts – such as when to drop off a child, where to meet, etc…
You do not want to add any fuel to the accuser’s fire by getting upset and making claims. Remember that anything can be held against you in a court of law – including your attempts to defend your character.
Keep Calm
Keeping your calm and hiring an attorney are sufficient steps in contesting domestic abuse claims. Remaining calm and collected in the face of these allegations is your first step to fighting them and retaining your reputation.
Source: AboutRelationships.com, How to Respond to False Allegations of Domestic Abuse, 2014
