You made a hard decision to get a divorce, and now you’ve found out that your wife is accusing you of domestic violence. You never hurt her, but her claims make you out to be controlling and manipulative. It’s never a good feeling to find out that someone you love is willing to go so far to discredit you. Fortunately, you can fight back by defending yourself. By proving your innocence, it’s the false accuser who loses credibility in court. Here are three ways to fight back against these horrible accusations.
1. Prove that the incident never occurred
The internet, cellphones and technology are wonderful tools for fighting allegations of abuse. For example, if your wife claims you control all the money in the home, it’s beneficial to show that her accounts are full and that she has access to her own credit cards and bank accounts. Or, if she claims you control whom she talks to, a quick look at a social media chat or cellphone bill may show that she certainly spoke to many people despite claiming she couldn’t.
Sometimes, alleged victims share dates they claim that events happened. Social media and technology can help you there, too. If you were out of town, out with friends or at work at the time she claims you were violent or controlling, you have the opportunity to show the court evidence in your favor.
2. Get witnesses to speak on your behalf
It’s a great idea to work with witnesses who know you and your spouse. Your witness might be a mutual friend or someone you both speak to at work. This individual has a good idea of your personalities and may have information on your wife’s plan to discredit you. Using someone with this information helps support your side of the case. Even if the individual has no knowledge of what’s going on, speaking about your reputation and nature helps you stand out in a better light.
3. Prove it was self-defense
Another good way to prove your wife has made a false allegation is if you were the person who suffered the attack and you have proof. You likely told a friend or family member about the incident, and you might have witnesses who saw her hit you or abuse you in another way. If you feared for your life or were being attacked at home or even in public, hitting or kicking her to protect yourself is an acceptable response that the court is likely to understand. Your attorney can help you present this information in a way that helps you fight the allegations against you.