Every divorce has the potential to be painful, bitter and contentious event. In fact, many divorcing spouses don't even want to be in the same room with each other. In most cases, unfortunately, people will have to go through some unpleasant encounters in the pursuit of ending a marriage.
However, there is a significant difference between these situations and one involving victims of domestic abuse. If you are in the latter situation, you may have very real concerns about your safety and the safety of your children and can be very scared about the prospect of trying to sever the relationship with an abuser. Thankfully, there are legal protections in place in Tennessee that can help you get divorced while minimizing contact with a violent ex.
To begin with, you can seek an order of protection that can prohibit your ex from contacting, intimidating, spying on or visiting you and your children, if necessary. In this state, the order will be enforced throughout your divorce and can be extended if an ex commits a violation.
The laws in Tennessee also allow two people to skip mediation, which is often ordered in family law cases, if there is evidence of domestic violence. While you may choose to go through mediation, the courts typically will not order it unless there are sufficient support resources in place.
The safety and welfare of your children is also protected by state family laws. If your ex is or was abusive to you or your child, he or she can be deprived of custody. Further, while visitation may be granted, it will typically come with extensive requirements and restrictions.
Ending a marriage can be difficult enough without also being scared that you or your family is in danger of being physically, emotionally, financially or sexually abused. The measures we just explored serve as means of keeping an abusive ex away from victims and eliminating the potential for abuses of power or manipulation during divorce. These laws and the help of an attorney can work together to protect you.