Auckland Family Protection Lawyer – Role in Safeguarding You
Domestic violence is abhorrent but sadly, it is a widespread problem in New Zealand. As a result, many people, usually women, need legal help to get support. An Auckland family protection lawyer can help.
What Is Domestic Violence?
People tend to think of domestic violence as being physical harm or assaults. However, there are other forms of domestic violence. These include sexual, emotional, and financial abuse.
Physical violence includes the obvious hitting or kicking to cause pain.
Sexual abuse again is an obvious form but there is also sexual assault. Sexual abuse is over an extended period whereas sexual assault is generally a one-off act.
The category of emotional or psychological abuse is a series of verbal actions over an extended time period. The intention is to undermine the victim’s mental state causing a loss of self-esteem, belittlement by using bullying, threats, and verbal attacks.
The last category is financial abuse. In this situation, one spouse controls the freedoms and behaviour of the other by controlling access to finances and cash. This might be by limiting the amount of money that a person has access to or requiring them to account for any expenditure. Other examples include preventing the partner from accessing or seeing the state of the family finances.
What Can A Family Protection Lawyer Do?
An Auckland family protection lawyer can explain your rights and help you to access legal resources to give you and your family protection from the abuser. For physical and sexual abuse, the rights are quite clear, however, with the other forms, they are probably not so well known.
Types Of Protection Order
There are numerous protection orders that you can have drawn up by your lawyer and endorsed by the Family Court.
These include:
- A Protection Order prohibits the abuser from having contact with the victim.
- A Non-Molestation Order means the abuser cannot come near you or your home.
- An Occupation Order allows you to remain in your home while preventing the abuser from entering it.
- A Residence Order gives you exclusive rights to occupy your home while requiring the abuser to leave it.
How To Get Protection Orders
There are various government agencies where you can apply for these protective orders. You can apply to the Family Court and a protection order will usually be granted the same day. You can get more information from the NZ Police or the Justice Department websites.
However, often victims are too overwhelmed, unsure, confused, or even physically not capable of making the applications.
It is often easier to get your lawyer to make the applications on your behalf. They will have more understanding of the process, and your own individual options.
Conclusion
Domestic violence is a serious problem in New Zealand. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, it’s important to seek help. An Auckland family protection lawyer can provide the legal assistance you need to get the protection and support you deserve. McVeagh Fleming has an office in Auckland city centre and can give you fast support to help you.