How Can You Protect Yourself From Stalking After Divorce?
In some relationships, after a divorce occurs there is more likely to be stalking by an ex-spouse. These chances only rise if there is a history of domestic abuse in the marriage. About half of all stalking victims experienced unwanted contact every week, and 11% of all victims have been stalked for over 5 years. For every 1,000 people who receive a divorce, an astounding 34 of these people will be stalked by an ex-partner. The worst thing that you can do in one of these very serious situations is decide to “give it time” to see what happens. Understand these tips to identify if you have been stalked, as well as what you can do about it.
Signs You Are Being Stalked
The best thing that you can do is learn how to protect yourself if you are the victim of stalking. However, first you must realize these signs:
- You run into your ex-spouse all the time. It feels like a coincidence at first, but after awhile it may feel like they are always there and always know what you are doing.
- They are always trying to text and email you, even though you don’t want them to.
- On birthdays and holidays, you are still receiving gifts from them.
- You always see their vehicle passing by your house.
- They make friends with your friends over Facebook or in person as a way to watch what you are doing.
- They accept negative attention when positive attention hasn’t worked, and attempt to ruin your character.
Protection and Restraining Orders
In many cases, when a divorcee is being stalked, there was some sort of domestic violence in the relationship. In California, orders of protection and restraining orders are basically referred to as the same thing. These orders request a party not to do certain things, which can order the abuser to stay a certain while away from the victim, their home, job, or school. If you believe that one of these orders may be the best bet for you because you are a victim of continual stalking, you should give us a call today. We can help you understand when the right time is to move forward with one of these orders and why it is vital for your safety.