Domestic Violence Law

Domestic violence is an act of violence committed, usually, by a partner against an "intimate partner, usually by the use of physical force or deadly weapon, which act results to economic, emotional and physical damages. "Inmate partner" include current legally-married spouse, former spouse, a person who is cohabiting or who has cohabited, and a person whom the partner shares a child with. Domestic violence is not just committed by a partner against an intimate partner, but also by a parent against his or her children, or a guardian against his or her ward. Domestic violence is also not defined by the use of physical strength or deadly weapon, but also by any attempted use of either physical strength or deadly weapon.

Domestic violence is a crime in the United States. This crime is punishable by law through state and federal rules and regulations. Majority of domestic violence issues are governed by state laws and statutes. The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 was passed by Congress to recognize that domestic violence is a national crime. The Gun Control Act was also expanded to mandate that domestic violence abusers are legally prohibited from possessing guns.

The VAWA has jurisdiction over U.S. territories, including Indian country and military bases. Under the VAWA, it is a federal crime when one partner crosses state lines and physically injures a partner, stalk or harass a partner, and violate a protection order. Under the Gun Control Act, a domestic violence abuser commits a crime when he or she possess a firearm subject to a qualifying protection Order; and when he or she possesses a firearm following that person's conviction of a crime of domestic violence.

The VAWA affords the victim certain protections, such as the right to a fair trial, right to restitution, and right to protective orders. In a VAWA case, the Court must order restitution to pay the victim the full amount of loss, which include medical and psychological care costs, housing, child care expenses, loss of employment wages, attorney's fees, costs incurred in obtaining a civil protection order, and any other losses.

Litigating a VAWA case is not as easy to showing the court bruises inflicted by a partner or a member of the family. The plaintiff needs to prove that the perpetrator's behavior and their relationship meet certain standards set by law. The establishment of such behavior and relationship will need the expertise of a domestic violence law attorney as the required standards differ from state to state. Moreover, in order for a plaintiff to receive full amount of loss, the plaintiff must keep a record of all expenses caused by the domestic violence crime. This shows that a victim need to avail the assistance of a domestic violence law attorney prior to initiating any suit against the perpetrator. Domestic violence has profound effects on both perpetrator and victim and may scar them for the rest of their lives. A domestic violence law attorney can help either perpetrator or victim sort out differences the least emotional way.

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Islamic Law - Legal Information and Resources

Islamic Law

Islamic law or sharia law is an advancing area of the law in the United States. Due to the influx of Islamic immigrants, Islamic law has grown prominence in law practitioners in the country. Islamic law is derived from the Quran, considered by the Muslims as the word of God, and the "Sunnah" or the teachings of Mohammad as prophet. Aside from the Quran and the Sunnah, Islamic law is also derived from religious edicts and legal decisions interpreting the law. Sharia law is a special kind of law in that it only applies to people who are practicing the Islam religion. This law governs all areas of the Islamic life, including marriage, crime, property, business and banking. Islamic law is governs both the personal and public practice of Islam as religion. In countries where Islamic law is widely recognized, there is a set of judges who interprets and makes decisions on disputes arising from Islamic law. In the United States, there are no different set of judges who makes decisions based on Islamic law. Rather, judges in the American legal system are the ones who are tasked in interpreting Islamic law vis-à-vis American laws.

The pervasive issue with Islamic law is its conflict with American civil law. Adaptation of sharia law in the United States vary in each state. Numerous states have adapted Islamic law in their legislation to accommodate Islamic practices, which are often different from American practices, but a few states have limited the application of Islamic laws. There is an increasing number of cases that question the constitutionality of certain laws and liberties as they often exclude Islamic practices, are seen insensitive to Islamic feelings, or are contrary to the Islamic beliefs. Because personal Islamic beliefs and feelings are sensitive, American courts are careful in deciding cases revolving around these issues.

One of the common application of Islamic law in the United States is in cases of divorce. Typically, judges will recognize the validity of marriage under Islamic law from a Muslim country in order to issue a divorce decree. The issue of marriage under Islamic law is an area of continuous debate in the United States as American family law prohibits polygamy or the marriage of one man to two or more women or the marriage of one women to two or more men.

Banking in the Islamic law, however, is a different matter to American courts. In order to attract investors from the Middle East and other Islamic countries, American banks and businesses have complied with requirements under the sharia law. Islamic banking law requires the company to donate a percentage of its annual profits to Islamic organizations designated by their Sharia-compliance advisors.

Legal issues arising from Islamic law is a sensitive matter in the United States and should be left handled by practitioners of both Islamic and American law. An expert Islamic law attorney would know how to be compliant with Islamic laws and reconcile both Islamic and American law for the client's best interest.

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