Stalking And Other Types of Harassment Common In Pinellas County Divorce

It is unlikely that you and a soon-to-be former spouse can work out all the details surrounding a divorce without legal help. A marriage breakup is always difficult, and you should have an experienced Seminole divorce attorney guiding you through the process and negotiating on your behalf.

Unfortunately, sometimes the situation escalates to the point that a prior partner engages in stalking or other types of harassment. Find out more about this unsettling situation and how to protect yourself.

 When A Soon-To-Be Former Spouse Engages In Harassment Or Stalking

There are standard policies and procedures for getting a divorce in Pinellas County. Each case is different, though, and issues that need to be addressed in court vary depending on your specific situation.

In general, you will need to reach agreements regarding marital property division, possible alimony payments, and parenting plans if there are children from the marriage. Negotiations can prove tense, particularly if one of both spouses has particularly hard feelings against the other or is dead set against the divorce.

This is when stalking and other types of harassment could become a problem. They are considered a type of domestic violence under the Florida Statutes and include:

• Monitoring your activities;
• Following you when you go to work, school, or out with friends;
• Reading your mail;
• Hacking into your phone or online accounts;
• Contacting your family;
• Making threats;
• Doing damage to property;
• Threatening to harm friends, family, or pets.

Protection Against Harassment During Pinellas County Divorce Proceedings

Domestic violence is generally about the abuser’s desire to control and manipulate the victim. It can take the form of stalking and harassment in a divorce, particularly if your spouse does not want the divorce, contests the terms, or has a history of abusive behavior.

Stalking and harassment are serious red flags that you should not ignore. There are cases where a harassing spouse may eventually lose interest or otherwise adjust to the fact the marriage is over. However, there are also those in which threatening behavior escalates the closer you get to a final divorce order. To protect yourself, our Seminole divorce attorney recommends the following tips:

• Keep a record of all harassment;
• Protect your personal safety by keeping doors locked and changing routes you travel;
• Inform family, friends, and your employer of what is happening;
• Notify the police immediately if you feel your safety is in jeopardy;
• Get legal help from a professional Pinellas divorce attorney with experience in domestic violence cases;
• Do not communicate with your spouse without your attorney present;
• Consider obtaining an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence.

Request A Consultation With Our Pinellas County Divorce Attorney 

Divorce is always difficult. Unfortunately, it can also be potentially dangerous if your spouse is engaging in stalking, harassment, or other abusive behaviors. The Reep Law Firm provides the caring support and experienced legal representation you need to protect yourself in this situation. To request a consultation, reach out and call or contact our Seminole divorce attorney online today.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0741/Sections/0741.28.html

mypinellasclerk.gov/Domestic-Violence-Restraining-Orders