Contested divorces can get downright heated, with accusations and allegations flying around like fur in a catfight.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for one spouse to paint themselves as the victim in the marriage by making false allegations of domestic abuse.
Why false allegations of domestic violence happen
This is an old, underhanded trick some spouses use. It’s designed to pull the wool over the court’s eyes and depict the other party as violent and abusive even when nothing could be farther from the truth. Some so-called “victims” will go so far as to self-injure and take photographs of the cuts and bruises they falsely accuse their spouses of inflicting. Below are some things you should keep in mind if you get wrongly accused of domestic violence.
Take all accusations seriously
If your spouse threatens to have you arrested for domestic violence (or you have an inkling they might resort to such trickery), immediately alert your attorney. Keep in mind that while your divorce attorney may be quite well-versed in family law, they may quickly be in over their head trying to defend you on charges of domestic abuse.
It is far better to have an experienced criminal defense attorney at the helm of your case when domestic abuse charges arise as a result of a divorce. The good news is that the Tennessee family law courts have seen countless cases where vindictive spouses make up spurious accounts of alleged domestic violence. Most judges can see through these scenarios, but you must be proactive 100% with your defense against these false charges.