Sofia Ivanov's ConsultationDomestic Violence and Divorce: Seeking Safety and CustodySofia Ivanov's Consultation

Consultation from: Sofia Ivanov (32 years old, from Russia, IT consultant, annual income: 6 million yen, lives in Saitama, Saitama)

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Sofia: Hello, Eishin Law Office. My name is Sofia Ivanov. I am 32 years old and have been in Japan for 10 years. I work as an IT consultant in Saitama, Saitama. I married my husband Taro 6 years ago, and we have a 2-year-old daughter.

Recently, I have been very scared because of my husband's domestic violence. He works as an executive at a company and earns about 12 million yen a year. At first, he was kind, but due to work stress, he has become violent towards me and our daughter.

For our safety, I have decided to get a divorce. However, I am worried about finding a safe place to live and getting a protection order. I also want to know how to get custody if my husband fights for it.

Eishin Law Office, can you please help me? I want to make a safer and more stable future for my daughter and myself. Thank you very much.

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Example Response from Eishin Law Office

Eishin Law Office:

Hello, Sofia. Thank you for sharing your story with us. We understand that you are going through a very tough and scary time.

First, about the protection order. If domestic violence is the cause, you can apply for a protection order at family court. This order will forbid your husband from contacting you and your daughter.

Next, about finding a place to live. You can secure a safe place through the DV support center or women's consultation center in your city. We will support you with the specific procedures.

For child custody, it is usually decided based on what is best for the child. Considering that you have been the main caregiver and the impact of domestic violence, it is likely that you will get custody.

Please visit our office so we can explain the procedures and necessary documents in detail. We will provide the best advice for you and your daughter.

Thank you, and we look forward to helping you.