Domestic violence is a serious issue concerning all segments of our society. It affects couples, their children, friends, relatives and employers. New Jersey courts take allegations of domestic violence very seriously and have established protocols in place to protect victims.
In order for an act to be considered a domestic violence offense the incident must be committed against an individual designated under the law as a protected person. Generally it is assumed that domestic incidents occur between husband and wife. While this may often be the case, there are other situations and relationships that can qualify for protection under the law. In order for an individual to obtain court ordered protection from acts of domestic violence, the violent act must have occurred between two people who have or have had one of the following relationships:
- Current or former spouse