Types of Domestic Abuse

Some people might think of domestic abuse as something that happens to someone else, but the truth is that domestic abuse is surprisingly common. According to abuse nonprofit HAVEN, domestic violence happens in one out of every four Michigan families, and over 100 people are killed by intimate partner violence in Michigan every year. Across the United States, more than 1 million people every year report an assault by their partner.

As common as domestic violence is, physical assault is not the only type of abuse. Abusive behavior takes physical, emotional, financial, and digital forms. Thankfully, victims do have legal protections they can turn to. If a family member or partner has abused you, you can contact our experienced family law attorneys to get the help you need.

Kraayeveld Family Law is a tenacious, honest, and responsive family law firm serving Grand Rapids and surrounding areas of Michigan. After three decades of helping people in Michigan with their family law needs, we’ve seen it all. Whatever you need to do to protect yourself and your children from an abusive relationship, we can help you do it.

Contact or call (616) 383-2679 Kraayeveld Family Law today to set up a confidential consultation with a family law attorney. Our office is conveniently located at 990 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Feel free to visit us for a case evaluation!

What Is the Definition of Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is a pattern of behavior that the abuser uses to maintain control over the abused person. The pattern of controlling and abusive behavior can take many different forms, so there are many different types of domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can occur in marriages, dating relationships, and even among family members.

Michigan law defines domestic violence as:

• Harming a family or household member, whether the harm is physical or mental
• Attempting harm even if the abuser does not succeed in inflicting harm
• Causing fear in a family or household member
• Using force, duress, or the threat of force to compel a family member to engage in unwanted sexual activity
• Treating a family or household member in any way that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, harassed, threatened, intimidated, or molested

What Are Examples of Abuse in Relationships?

Because abuse is a pattern of behavior used to control another person, it can manifest in physical, economic, sexual, or emotional terms.

Some examples of types of abuse and domestic violence include:

• Physical abuse – Hitting, pushing, choking, or any other kind of physical violence
• Emotional and psychological abuse – Gaslighting, verbal threats, or manipulation
• Economic abuse – Controlling a partner’s finances or preventing them from working
• Sexual abuse – Forced or otherwise coerced sexual activity
• Digital abuse – Cyberstalking or controlling the victim’s access to social media
• Legal abuse – Using the legal system to intimidate a partner through frivolous lawsuits, threats to get the person deported, or other misuse of the legal system

Some examples of different forms of domestic abuse include:

• Using threats or intimidation against an intimate partner
• Grabbing, shoving, hitting, or any other rough treatment
• Calling repeatedly or showing up without warning as if to check on an intimate partner
• Blaming misbehavior on drugs or alcohol
• Pressuring a partner to engage in sexual activities they don’t feel ready for
• Preventing an intimate partner from leaving the house after an argument
• Blaming a partner for the abuser’s actions
• Mocking an intimate partner in front of their friends or family members
• Belittling a partner’s accomplishments
• Using phrases like “you’re nothing without me”
• Interfering with attempts to see friends or family

Can You Sue Someone for Emotional Abuse in Michigan?

You may be able to sue an emotional abuser for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED).

To win a lawsuit for IIED in Michigan, you must prove that the defendant’s behavior was:

• Extreme and outrageous
• Intentional or reckless
• The cause of severe emotional distress

Michigan courts have rules that emotional abuse can be grounds for an IIED case when the abuser’s behavior was “beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” If your partner has treated you in an egregious and unacceptable way, you may be able to pursue compensation for the emotional distress they inflicted on you.

Legal Resources and Support for Domestic Abuse Survivors in Michigan

If you need protection from an abusive domestic partner, you can get help by seeking a domestic relationship personal protection order (PPO).

You can pursue a domestic relationship PPO against:

If you’re being sexually threatened or harassed by someone who doesn’t fit into any of these categories, you can ask the court for a non-domestic sexual assault PPO.

A PPO can help protect you by forbidding your abuser from:

Violating a PPO can result in a fine of up to $500 and up to 93 days in jail.

Michigan has a domestic violence hotline at 866-VOICEDV. The hotline is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

DomesticShelters.org provides a list of Michigan’s 73 organizations that provide domestic violence services and 53 Michigan cities that provide domestic violence shelters or other services.

If you need help navigating your legal options and securing the legal protections you need, Kraayeveld Family Law is ready to help you.

Get Help from Our Michigan Domestic Abuse Attorneys

If you are facing any type of domestic abuse, whether physical, sexual, emotional, or financial, help is available to you today. Seek legal advice immediately to get the assistance you need.

Kraayeveld Family Law has extensive experience helping abuse victims. We can help put you in touch with domestic violence services, file a personal protection order, or file a lawsuit to hold your abuser accountable for their actions.

Contact or call (616) 383-2679 Kraayeveld Family Law today. We can help. Let’s talk.