What is the statute of limitations for filing a domestic abuse case?

In California, the statute of limitations for filing a domestic abuse case is two years from the date of the incident. This means that a civil lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the alleged abuse. However, this statute of limitations may be extended if the plaintiff can demonstrate that it was not possible to file the lawsuit within the two-year period due to circumstances beyond their control. The two-year statute of limitations applies to all forms of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional, verbal, or financial abuse. These limits are set in place to ensure that victims of domestic abuse have ample time to come forward and seek justice. Additionally, the statute of limitations for criminal domestic abuse cases in California is three years from the date of the incident. This means that criminal prosecution must be started within three years of the alleged abuse. In some cases, a victim may seek a restraining order or other protection from domestic abuse even after the statute of limitations has expired. In this case, the victim must prove that a serious threat of imminent harm is present in order to obtain a restraining order. In conclusion, the statute of limitations for filing a domestic abuse case in California is two years from the date of the incident for civil cases, and three years from the date of the incident for criminal cases. However, exceptions may be made in certain circumstances.

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