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Each of us probably has a sense of what domestic violence is and whom it affects. The California
Family Code section 6211 describes domestic violence as abuse directed toward: a spouse
or former spouse; a cohabitant or former cohabitant; a person with whom there is or has been a
dating or engagement relationship; a person with whom there are children in common; or
any other person related by blood or marriage within the second degree. That is a brother
or sister or grandparent or grandchild.
Under the laws that apply to restraining orders, abuse is basically any actual or threatened
physical or *** violence that is intended to cause injury, that actually causes injury,
or that puts a person in reasonable fear of a serious bodily injury. In addition to physically
striking a person, specific instances of abuse may also include: threats to hurt or kill
a person or the person's children, friends, relatives or pets; throwing things at the
person; pushing or shoving the pereson or pulling their hair; destroying the person's
property; or using a weapon to hurt or scare the person.