Stalking Common After Separating Due to Domestic Violence

For some people with broken hearts, it is difficult to let go. Following a divorce or separation, one partner may want to find ways to see or be close to the other, perhaps just for confirmation that the other partner has moved on. This may mean occasionally driving past the former partner’s work or New Jersey home. However, there are times when a jilted lover or divorced spouse will take things too far, especially if the past relationship involved domestic violence.

While anyone may be the victim of a stalker, the statistics are much higher among recently divorced or separated people, both men and women, particularly those with a history of domestic violence. Stalking can include appearing unexpectedly too often for it to be a coincidence, persistently sending unwanted texts or emails, or leaving gifts at the former partner’s home or work. In some cases, the behaviors fade away, but it is not always wise to take a chance and wait for it to end.

It is not uncommon for a stalker’s behavior to escalate. Nearly half of those who experience stalking become afraid of what may happen. An unhappy ex who takes to stalking may force a former partner to change phone numbers, block him or her on social media, and constantly put out fires as the ex uses character assassination as a way to get the former partner’s attention.

Anyone who is dealing with an ex who is exhibiting the behaviors of a stalker may decide that a restraining order is necessary for protection against domestic violence. A restraining order will impose penalties, such as arrest, on the stalker who violates the distance the court orders him or her to keep. A New Jersey attorney can also offer advice about the best options to protect oneself from an unhappy ex-partner.