What Is Legal Abuse?
Legal abuse, is a tactic abusers use to try and retain power and control over a survivor after separation. They do so by utilizing the legal system to harass, intimidate or threaten the survivor. It can be exhausting, financially draining and traumatizing for a survivor to have to continue to see their abusive partner or respond to the abuser’s court filings, all under the guise of being “legal.”
- Legal abuse is a form of post-separation control where abusers manipulate the court system to harass, intimidate, or financially drain survivors.
- Common tactics include filing excessive or frivolous motions, delaying court proceedings and making false accusations—all intended to overwhelm and destabilize the survivor.
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Survivors can protect themselves by documenting patterns, seeking protective orders and working with legal professionals familiar with domestic abuse dynamics.
HAVEN Program is fortunate to have Legal Advocate Caren Hall on our team. She helps clients make sense of the legal system and recognize when their abuser is using it as another form of control. With her support, survivors don’t have to navigate the unfamiliar and often intimidating court system alone—they have someone in their corner who truly understands what they’re going through and how to help them move forward.
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Please access the full article by Amanda Kippert by the link below.
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