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False Allegations: What Happens When Someone Lies About Domestic Violence

Posted by Joseph Lento | Sep 08, 2022 | 0 Comments

In April 2022, a highly publicized civil defamation case between formerly married actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard brought domestic violence to the forefront of our national discourse, centering the conversation on whether or not the abuse allegations made by Heard were fabricated. The truth is, many Pennsylvanians find themselves facing similar accusations. Since those cases aren't often subjects of the daily news, you may be wondering how false allegations of domestic violence are handled in your state.

Why Do People Lie?

Understandably, domestic violence accusations are not taken lightly. In Pennsylvania, the Protection From Abuse Act (PFA) makes it easy to file for protection against abusive “household members.” While this is a positive for true victims of abuse, it also opens the door for false allegations.

The motivation to lie varies from person to person. One of the most common reasons is to affect ongoing or future custody battles. The court has a more difficult time granting custody rights to an abusive parent. The same can also be said for divorce proceedings, where accusations of domestic abuse can often tilt the scales in favor of the alleged victim. In some cases, false allegations are made purely out of spite, with the intent being to damage the accused's relationships or career.

Regardless of the reasoning, if you are falsely accused of abuse, your first instinct may be to react negatively or attempt to defend yourself. However, a wrong move can lead to further strengthen the accusations against you. Your best course of action is to hire an experienced PFA defense lawyer immediately.

Are There Repercussions For Lying?

Considering the massive weight a domestic violence offense has on the life of the accused, shouldn't the accuser face similar consequences for false allegations? Not usually.

Because the law does not want to discourage victims of abuse from coming forward, it is rare for charges to be brought against the lying individual. The person who was falsely accused may also choose to file a civil lawsuit (such as in the Depp-Heard case) to attempt to receive compensation for damages resulting from the false allegation.

If you have been wrongly accused, the number one priority should be to clear your name before the damage is irreversible. This can be difficult because the protections PFA orders provide to accusers make it nearly impossible to defend yourself. This is why you should not attempt to do it alone. Instead, allow someone who knows the ins and outs of Pennsylvania law to assist you with your defense.

An Experienced PFA Defense Attorney

Our Family Law Team specializes in family law and has seen many of these types of cases. Our expert Family Law Team at the LLF Law Firm are ready to help protect you from baseless claims of domestic violence. Don't allow false accusations to ruin your life. Call 888-535-3686 or fill out the online form now to plan your defense.

About the Author

Joseph Lento

"I pride myself on having heart and driving hard to get results!" Attorney Joseph D. Lento is a veteran of one of the nation's busiest family courts with nearly 20 years' experience passionately helping families. By day, he worked in the trenches of family court, and at night, he studied the law. He helped countless families while working at family court, and he went on to become an attorney, dedicating his law practice to continuing the work he started years earlier. Mr. Lento's experience both behind the scenes and on the front lines allows him to understand a client's family law matter from all angles, and allows him to find and employ the most effective strategies to get favorable outcomes for any client. Joseph D. Lento is licensed in Pennsylvania New Jersey, and New York, and is admitted pro hac vice as needed nationwide. In the courtroom and in life, attorney Joseph D. Lento stands up when the bell rings!

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The LLF Law Firm has unparalleled experience practicing Family Law in Pennsylvania. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you and your family, contact our offices today. Our Family Law Team will go above and beyond the needs for any client and fight for what is fair.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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