If I’m the Victim of Domestic Violence, What Evidence Do I Need to Get a PFA?
If you are the victim of domestic violence, the State of Pennsylvania allows you to petition the court for a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order. However, you must provide proof to the court that domestic violence is occurring. You can establish that you are the victim of physical or sexual violence or the recipient of verbal threats against you or your children that place you in reasonable fear of suffering imminent serious bodily injury. In this article, the Philadelphia domestic violence lawyers at The Law Offices of Lauren H. Kane will discuss Protection from Abuse orders and what evidence you’ll need to prove your case.
Types of proof for a PFA order
When deciding on a PFA order, the courts will hear various types of evidence presented by the alleged victim. Below is a list of some of the evidence you can provide to prove your case.
- Criminal conviction for domestic violence
If your abuser has been previously convicted of the crime of domestic violence, this evidence can be used against them during a PFA hearing. However, evidence of a prior conviction is not enough to prove your case.
- Physical records of bodily injury
Some of the strongest evidence you can present is evidence of previous abuse. This comes in the form of physical evidence of injuries you sustained during an attack. Photographs of your injuries, torn clothing, medical or hospital records, damage to property, and police reports can all be used to support your case. If the abuse was verbal or contained threats against you or your children, you can use evidence of text messages, social media posts, or emails that contain threatening language.
- Medical records
Medical records can be used as evidence in a PFA case. Medical records offer objective evidence documenting the domestic violence that you have suffered. If you are the victim of abuse, you should (if you can) seek immediate medical attention to document your injuries for your PFA case.
- Eyewitness evidence
Eyewitnesses who can corroborate your claims can prove extremely useful in a PFA case. This is especially true when the witnesses are not friends or family. Neighbors or others who provide unbiased testimony on your behalf tend to be harder to challenge and far more credible. However, you can also have friends and family testify on your behalf if they witnessed the violence or the aftermath of the violence. Such testimony will not be weighed as strongly as objective evidence or neutral eyewitness testimony, but it can provide a framework for the objective evidence and tilt the scales in your favor.
Talk to a Philadelphia Domestic Violence Lawyer Today
The Law Offices of Lauren H. Kane represent the interests of those who have suffered abuse in their home from a loved one. We can help you secure a PFA order and ensure that you’re protected from future abuse. Call our Philadelphia family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin gathering evidence on your behalf right away.
