First and foremost, if you are experiencing domestic violence or abuse, immediate help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for safe, confidential, personal help and resources, by phone or text. From a legal perspective, abuse cases are very serious matters and usually require evidence to proceed. Due to the he-said-she-said nature of these cases, many attorneys require some form of proof, which may include: Pictures of the physical abuse, including cuts, bruises, or destroyed property Medical reports of injuries Police reports Witnesses who have seen some or all of the altercations and can validate the claim Unfortunately, obtaining this kind of evidence isn’t always easy. Many domestic violence cases happen in the home without witnesses, and physical evidence may either be absent or temporary. Victims of domestic abuse are encouraged to collect as much evidence as possible, and, as noted above, to seek safety and protection as soon as possible.