Eight Steps to Take to Safely Leave an Abusive Relationship

Are you struggling to leave your abusive partner?  Are you afraid that your partner will harm you if you leave your abusive relationship?  Being in an abusive relationship is not only detrimental to your physical health, but also your emotional health and overall well-being.  It can have many lasting psychological impacts that can affect your future.  Even before you worry about your future, you may be concerned with how to leave your present situation safely.  Once you are out of your abusive relationship, you will also want to follow up with legal action by working with a quality family law practice in Orlando.  When you work with us, your safety will be our number one priority and we will fight to make sure that is never compromised again.  Leaving your partner is the first step you'll need to take.  Even though this may seem difficult, or even impossible, there are a few things you can do to safely leave an abusive relationship.

Devise a Safe Plan that Assesses Risk

When you know that you are prepared to leave your abusive relationship, you'll want to devise a plan.  At the forefront of your plan, you'll want to consider your safety.  Consider things like where you will stay so that your abuser can't find you, and be sure to trust individuals that will keep your location secret.  Consider belongings that you will take, and consider how you will get these belongings without your abuser becoming suspicious.  

Tell a Trusted Individual Your Plan

Before you leave your abuser, you want to be sure that at least one other trusted individual knows about your plan.  Discuss the details of your plan with a friend or family member so that you can have someone else looking out for you.  This will provide them with the details, like time and place, so that they can assist you and support you through the break up and through the recovery process.  It is difficult to leave any relationship, but when your safety is also in question, you want to have the support of others.

Contact a Hotline

If you are not comfortable talking with friends or family members, contact a hotline that can assist you through your breakup.  These services can typically provide you with safe housing for your transition to be sure that you stay safe from your abuser.  Also, you can discuss these plans with a therapist so that you can discuss them thoroughly and get professional advice to deal with your situation.  All of these individuals will provide you with the safety that you need, and that you've always deserved.

Be Careful

The most susceptible time for your abuser to return is right after you leave the relationship, as this may be when they are most frustrated or angry.  This may cause them to react in negative ways, as they have proven to behave this way before.  Take time to be cautious about your activity during these initial days.  Stay in safe place around individuals that will protect you in the event that your abuser locates you.  Alert the police if you need to, and stay out of harm's way by remaining in private places.  Avoid being alone, as there is safety in numbers.  Being careful is the best precaution you can take to begin distancing yourself from your abuser.  

Keep Important Documents Handy

When it comes time to leave your abuser, be sure that you are fully prepared.  This includes taking with you important documents, like passports, IDs, credit cards, birth certificates, and any other documentation of your children's.  This will make it easier for you to move on without having to return to your abuser for any assistance or favors.

Plan As Much As Possible Ahead of Time

When you are planning to leave an abusive relationship, you will want to plan as much as you can ahead of time.  This will provide you with the ability to move important belongings slowly over time, so that your abuser will not notice anything suspicious.  Also, it will provide you with the opportunity to develop the confidence that you may need to do actually do it.  You will be able to discuss your plan with your loved ones and other trusted individuals, which will help prepare you for this event.  Know that you aren't alone and that many people are here to support you during this tough time.

Contact an Attorney

Anytime you are concerned about your safety and well-being, especially after you leave an abusive relationship, you should seek legal counsel.  As an experienced family law practice in Orlando, we understand the need for security, and we will help you achieve these.  You can file restraining orders that require your abuser to steer clear from you at all times without legal ramifications.  Also, you can file any lawsuits that will help you fight for the pain and suffering your partner has put you through.  Once you leave an abusive relationship, you want to be sure that your abuser won't return to your life, and you'll also want to be sure that you alert others to steer clear as well.

Always Put Safety First

It can be exhilarating to imagine your life free from your abuser, but be sure to not let this excitement cloud your mind and create a false sense of security.  Until you have put all the legal practices in place with the help of our family law practice in Orlando, you will want to stay private and guarded.  Always put your safety above all else to protect yourself from you abuser should an occurrence happen.  

These are some of the steps that you'll want to take to leave an abusive relationship and begin life on your own.  In order to do this, you'll always want to put your safety first by trusting individuals to help you through this process.  As a family law practice in Orlando, we can assist you with issues related to domestic violence.  You'll want to have the right legal counsel to support you through a terrifying and challenging time.  Contact us to hear about how we can help you stay safe today.