domestic violence

Domestic violence is addressed in both criminal law and family law and is typically defined by statute. Under federal law, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) defines domestic violence as certain crimes committed by a current or former spouse, intimate partner, co-parent, cohabitant, or other person covered under domestic violence laws. In relation to victim services, domestic violence includes the “use or attempted use of physical abuse or sexual abuse, or a pattern of any other coercive behavior committed, enabled, or solicited to gain or maintain power and control over a victim, including verbal, psychological, economic, or technological abuse that may or may not constitute criminal behavior.” See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(8).

California law defines domestic violence as abuse against an adult or minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or someone with whom the person has had a child or dating relationship with. A cohabitant means two unrelated adults living together for a substantial period with signs of a stable relationship, such as shared finances, property, or public identification as a couple. See Cal. Penal Code § 13700; People v. Brown, 192 Cal. App. 4th 1222 (2011); People v. Mani, 74 Cal. App. 5th 343 (2022).

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[Last reviewed in July of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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