When you hear the term “domestic violence,” you probably think of intimate partner violence. Domestic violence is commonly used to mean violence between two people who are in a romantic relationship. However, under Illinois criminal law, domestic violence can refer to violence between any two people who have a domestic relationship of any kind. This includes people who have a family relationship, such as parents and children, siblings, or cousins. It also includes people you are related to by marriage – your in-laws. Most families experience conflict sometimes. Occasionally, family conflict can reach a boiling point and turn physical. This is especially common during the holidays when family members who are normally able to avoid each other are brought together. If you were arrested for domestic violence after fighting with a family member, you need an experienced Arlington Heights, IL criminal defense lawyer.
