Resolution Through Negotiation

Family law and child custody representation in Minnesota's Twin Cities.

St. Paul man charged with domestic abuse during visitation

On Behalf of | Nov 21, 2013 | Firm News |

A local St. Paul boxer was arrested by the Scottsdale, Arizona Police Department after allegedly strangling and punching his ex-girlfriend. According to reports, the man was out of state visiting the former couple’s four-year-old daughter at the time of the incident.

Though no mention was made to the man’s history of abuse, this incident will almost certainly affect the nature of the couple’s child custody and visitation agreements going forward.

Research has shown that domestic abuse frequently does not stop when a couple breaks up or gets a divorce. Abuse often continues at significant rates and can even increase in severity. This abuse is directly relevant to parenting time and visitation rights.

An abused spouse can petition a court to put restrictions on another parent’s right to spend time with his or her child. An abused spouse can also attempt to eliminate that right all together. Courts recognize that domestic abuse correlates with child abuse. Moreover, even if the child is not being abused, a violent parent is a bad role model and violence in the home can create or maintain an unstable situation. These negative consequences have forced courts to scrutinize allegations of abuse.

As a result, allegations of violence are always taken very seriously in Minnesota family law situations. Parental rights can be significantly affected by violent incidents or even the allegations thereof. Accordingly, parents in such circumstances can contact a local attorney in order to be advised of their rights.

These family law professionals can help parents enforce court judgment or parenting agreements. They can also fight to help a parent modify an agreement or prevent a proposed modification by the other spouse. No matter the scenario, local St. Paul attorneys can help parents protect their time with their children.

Source: Examiner.com, “MN boxer arrested for domestic abuse,” Marina Lumsden, Nov. 13, 2013