Police departments and local court systems usually take claims of domestic violence very seriously. For this reason, it's important to make only valid claims of domestic violence. If a claim is made to the clerk of courts, an injunction or restraining order will most likely be issued against the accused, even if the accuser initially presents little or no evidence to support the claim. A hearing will be set for sometime within the next week to 15 days to determine whether the claim was true or false. If the accuser is unable to present any witnesses or evidence of abuse, such as medical records, photographs, or tapes of threatening messages, the claim will most likely be considered false. The injunction against the accused will be terminated, and the person who filed the false claim will have to pay all court costs. If the accuser is able to convince the judge that the claim is true, the accused may face a fine or even jail time. False claims of domestic violence take time, money, and attention away from valid claims, and may damage the reputation of an innocent person.
