Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Family Law

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that approximately 20 people per minute are subjected to physical abuse by an intimate partner, and that domestic violence rates have steadily increased over the past few decades. This, of course, does not include other forms of domestic violence, such as emotional abuse, verbal abuse, and financial abuse. While family law professionals are no strangers to domestic violence issues in their cases, deepening our understanding of the dynamics involved in patterns of abuse — and the appropriate trauma-informed care that’s required — can help better address clients’ needs and goals during and post-divorce.

In this session, Theresa E. Viera, family law attorney and Certified Family Financial Mediator, will share her vast knowledge of the interaction between domestic violence and family law, including:

• Various definitions of domestic violence and what they have in common
• Patterns of domestic abuse and the Duluth Model protocol
• Best practices when representing domestic violence survivors
• Domestic violence and the law: Remedies and gaps

Meet the Presenter:

Presenter: Theresa E. Viera, Family Law Attorney and Certified Family Financial Mediator

Theresa E. Viera is a family law attorney, Certified Family Financial Mediator, and founder of Modern Legal, a firm based in Charlotte, NC. Ms. Viera’s intimate knowledge of the North Carolina family court system began when she was a child. From a traumatic childhood experiencing many days inside the courthouse due to domestic violence at home, she drove herself to become the first lawyer in her family. Ms. Viera attended George Washington University for her undergraduate studies, then the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill.

Over her many years of practicing law with a focus on Family Law, she’s helped hundreds of clients and their families find healthy solutions by utilizing the law.