Staying safe during a domestic dispute or divorce

Domestic disputes and/or divorces can turn ugly.

For those leaving abusive relationships, there is an element of danger as well. Even spouses who have never been abusive, separation and divorce can deliver surprising reactions. In these situations, you should consider options to protect yourself and your children from a potentially violent encounter.

Follow your attorney’s recommendations for steps to take.

The most common basic steps include:

• Canceling joint credit/debit cards or accounts.
  If you shared accounts, canceling them may prevent any malicious activity. You may also consider moving your individual accounts in the event usernames/passwords were readily available at home.

• Safeguard documents.
  Important items including social security numbers, passports, mortgages, and other documents should be copied and kept in a safe place. If you have a will, you may need to consider removing your ex if listed as your beneficiary.

• Safeguard social media.
  This may be a good time to pause your social media accounts and certainly change all usernames/passwords. You should also ignore any posts or comments that may arise involving your name. Making your conflicts public on social media only invites more trouble.

Domestic Abuse concerns?

If you fear for your safety, consider a restraining order. Make a copy for your trusted friends or neighbors, employer, and children’s school, along with your ex-spouse’s photo to prevent any violation of the order.

Change your locks. If you're remaining in the same residence you shared with your ex, change the locks to prevent re-entering. If you have decided to move, consider a P.O. box for your mail temporarily in order to keep your address less public. You may also consider changing your cell phone number.

Call Maxxguard at (731) 427-7222 to ask about incident response for threats of violence or domestic abuse, patrol services, and other options. This can be quite effective in deterring any misbehavior and signals to your ex that you are serious about your protection.