Atlanta Domestic Violence Lawyer
Have you or your children been the victim of domestic violence in Atlanta, GA? Call Crystal Wright Law at 404-594-2143 for a free consultation. Our experienced Atlanta domestic violence lawyers can offer the support and guidance you need during this challenging time.
Crystal Wright Law is an award-winning family law firm dedicated to protecting the rights and safety of victims of domestic violence. As top-rated family law attorneys with nearly a decade of experience handling sensitive, high-stakes family disputes, we help our clients navigate challenging issues like divorce, child custody, protective orders, and financial support.
Why Choose Crystal Wright Law to Help Me With My Domestic Violence Case in Atlanta, GA?
It can be challenging to stand up and fight for yourself when someone you love is violent and abusive. However, your safety and your future are much too important to remain silent – especially if there are children in the home. Know that you’re not alone. The experienced Atlanta family law attorneys at Crystal Wright Law are here to help you every step of the way.
By providing personalized attention and personalized legal strategies, we’re able to find ways to help our clients achieve their short-term and long-term goals. It’s why founding attorney Crystal Wright has been named one of the Best Divorce Lawyers in Duluth by Expertise.com and a Super Lawyers Rising Star.
Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta domestic violence lawyer.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence can be broadly defined as violence between family or household members.
Under Georgia state law, a person can face criminal domestic violence charges if they commit a felony or assault, battery, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint, criminal trespass, or stalking against a:
- Current or former spouse
- Co-parent
- Child
- Parent
- Stepparent
- Stepchild
- Foster parent
- Foster child
- A person who is currently or was formerly living in the same home
Domestic violence isn’t just a matter of criminal law. It can also have civil and family consequences, as well. Victims of domestic violence in Georgia have the right to sue for physical and emotional harm, as well as ask a court for protective orders, file for divorce, and/or request modifications of child custody rights.
Can I Get a Restraining Order if I’ve Been the Victim of Domestic Violence?
Yes. A family violence protective order, which is sometimes called a restraining order, can request an individual accused of domestic violence to remain a certain distance away from their family members and/or home and stop communicating with them.
Different types of protective orders can be secured in domestic violence cases. If you’ve been abused, threatened, harassed, or stalked by a family member or partner, our domestic violence attorneys in Atlanta can help you file for a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) with the Superior Court of Fulton County.
The Temporary Protective Order can be issued immediately upon evidence of the alleged domestic violence. While the TPO is effective, our legal team can help you request more permanent protection under the law, as well as initiate divorce proceedings, request sole custody of any children in the household, and take other steps to ensure your safety.
Protective orders are enforced by the police. Violations of protective orders can be punished by law and support any steps you take to separate yourself and your children from the abusive individual.
How Can Domestic Violence Affect Child Custody?
The state of Georgia takes the safety and welfare of children very seriously. If a child’s parent is accused of domestic violence, it’s possible to have that parent’s custodial rights – both legal and physical – terminated.
If your children have been physically abused, threatened, or harassed by their other parent, or if your child has witnessed domestic violence against another person in the household, our family law attorneys in Atlanta can help you file for sole custody.
Sole custody means that only one parent has the right to make decisions about a child’s health, welfare, and safety and to have the child live with them.
We can gather evidence of the abusive behavior and bring in experts to demonstrate how the domestic violence has affected (and will continue to affect) the child. We’ll present this information to the court and ask to have the abusive parent’s custodial rights terminated so that they can remain safe with you.
Can I File For Divorce If I or My Children Have Been Abused?
While it can be difficult, it’s important that you don’t remain in a violent and abusive relationship. If your spouse is abusive, you can file for divorce to protect your safety.
There are 13 grounds for divorce in the state of Georgia, including irretrievably broken marriage and cruel treatment, both of which can be the basis for a split due to domestic violence. Once you’ve filed for a TPO, our Atlanta divorce attorneys can help you move forward with a divorce petition.
How Domestic Violence Can Affect Divorce in Georgia
Before the court can grant a divorce, which will be no fewer than 31 days after the petition has been filed, spouses must agree on the terms. Depending on the couple’s situation, divorce typically includes property division, child custody, child support, and/or spousal support.
Georgia law aims to divide marital property in a way that’s fair, though not always equal. Usually, courts want children to have ongoing relationships with both parents. But when abuse is involved, judges often take a different approach. They may award full custody to the non-abusive parent, order financial support, and ensure you get a larger share of the marital assets.
What Judges Look for in Domestic Violence-Related Divorce and Custody Cases
Judges don’t just look at physical violence—they also consider signs of controlling behavior, emotional abuse, and intimidation. These patterns matter, especially when your safety or your children’s well-being is at stake. You don’t need a criminal conviction to share your story. Records like police reports, medical documents, or witness statements can help show what you’ve been through and support your request for protection.
You don’t have to face this process alone. Our Atlanta divorce lawyers will stand by your side, helping you make informed decisions and working to protect your safety—and your children’s future.
How Can False Accusations of Domestic Violence Affect Family Law Disputes?
Domestic violence can have very real consequences. Unfortunately, there are times when allegations of abuse or mistreatment are raised falsely in an attempt to exact revenge or secure more favorable outcomes in a divorce.
If you’ve been falsely accused of domestic violence by a partner or co-parent, we can help you fight back to protect yourself from any adverse consequences. We have experience investigating false claims, gathering evidence to contradict assertions of harm or threats, and guarding against attempts to keep children from our clients or prevent the best divorce outcome.
How Common Is Domestic Violence in the U.S.?
Domestic violence is a common problem in households across the country. Physical domestic violence is believed to occur between spouses in about 20 percent of all marriages. Emotional abuse and threats are even more common. If you find yourself the victim of domestic violence in your household, it’s important to take legal action to protect yourself and anyone else who might suffer the consequences.
How Can a Family Law Attorney in Atlanta Help Me Deal With Domestic Violence?
Working with an experienced Atlanta domestic violence lawyer at Crystal Wright Law can help you stay safe and achieve your objectives.
When you hire our family law firm to help with domestic violence, we can:
- Help you understand your legal rights and options
- File for a TRO and seek more permanent protection from your abuser, if necessary
- File for divorce and seek sole custody of any children in the home
- Petition to have the relationship between the abusive parent and the children closely monitored through supervised visits and imposed sobriety requirements
- Ask to have an abusive parent’s custodial rights terminated entirely if a continued relationship would jeopardize your child’s physical or psychological well-being
- Negotiate the terms of your divorce with your safety and well-being at the center of our efforts
- Report the domestic violence to the police to protect you and initiate criminal charges, if that’s what you want
- Bring any disputes in your domestic violence family law case to trial, if necessary
You might feel alone, but you’re not. We are here to defend your rights and your future during this incredibly trying time. We can provide the legal experience and resources required to achieve the level of protection you need to move on with your life.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Atlanta Domestic Violence Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been the victim of domestic violence in Atlanta, Georgia, Crystal Wright Law is here for you. You have the right to stand up for yourself and keep yourself safe, and our experienced Atlanta domestic violence lawyers are prepared to be your most passionate advocate during this process.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.