Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Explains How To Protect Yourself From Stalking And Harassment During Legal Proceedings

Filing for a divorce in Fort Lauderdale? You may encounter hostile attitudes on the part of your soon-to-be ex-spouse, particularly if they are not on the same page in terms of wanting to end the marriage. During legal proceedings, it is also not uncommon for a spurned spouse to seek revenge or to want to make the divorce process as difficult as possible.

Sadly, this can quickly escalate and may result in stalking and other types of harassment. Our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer provides caring support and professional legal guidance in this situation, helping you protect yourself. Find out more about stalking and harassment during divorce proceedings and how to put a stop to it.

Stalking And Harassment A Common Problem In Fort Lauderdale Contested Divorces

When some marriages break up, the parties can remain on amicable terms. They may agree on getting a divorce and all the terms surrounding any settlements, which makes getting a final divorce order easier.

Unfortunately, other cases are more contested, take longer to resolve, and can involve angry and aggressive behavior on the part of one or both spouses. This is when stalking and harassment are most likely to happen. Under the Florida Statutes, harassment involves targeting others with behavior that causes emotional distress and serves no practical purpose.

This includes stalking, which may involve creeping around someone’s home or following them to work or on social outings. Unfortunately, this type of behavior is common in contested divorces. Other harassing behaviors you may encounter on the part of a disgruntled soon-to-be former spouse include:

• Cyber-stalking, such as hacking into social media accounts or creating false profiles to get information on you;
• Making unwanted calls, emails, or texts;
• Sending flowers, food, or other deliveries to your home or office;
• Spreading rumors among friends and family regarding your behavior.

How To Protect Yourself Against Stalking And Harassment During A Fort Lauderdale Divorce

Stalking and harassment are considered misdemeanor offenses in the Broward County Criminal Court. However, when committed against a family member or former spouse, they rise to the level of domestic violence in Florida, which carries potentially harsh penalties.

How can you put a stop to stalking and harassment during divorce proceedings? Our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer has extensive experience with these cases and recommends the following tips:

• Gather evidence of stalking or other harassing behavior, such as copies of texts or emails sent by your former partner;
• Notify law enforcement and file an incident report, further documenting the situation;
• Make your divorce lawyer aware of the situation, as it can have significant impacts on your divorce case;
• Find out whether you can get a Florida restraining order and what other options are available.

For Trusted Legal Help, Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer

Stalking and harassment are common in Fort Lauderdale divorce proceedings and can escalate to more aggressive and harmful behavior.  To get the trusted legal help you need during this difficult time, contact Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Vanessa L. Prieto. Request a confidential consultation today.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0784/Sections/0784.048.html

browardclerk.org/

flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Domestic-Violence/Overview-for-Respondents