Domestic Abuse/Family Violence

Family violence is defined in the Texas Family Code as “an act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does not include defensive measures to protect oneself.” If there has been domestic abuse or family violence, a party often desires a family member to be excluded from the residence or other protective measures to be put in place. In this case, an attorney may file an Application for Protective Order.