Best Domestic Violence Lawyers in Piacenza

About Domestic Violence Law in Piacenza, Italy

Domestic violence in Piacenza is addressed under Italian national law and supported by local services in the Province of Piacenza and the Emilia-Romagna region. Domestic violence includes physical, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse committed by a spouse, partner, family member, or cohabitant, as well as by former partners. In Italy these behaviors can constitute crimes such as mistreatment in the family, threats, stalking, sexual violence, unlawful dissemination of intimate images, and bodily injury. Victims can seek both criminal protection and civil protection orders, along with family law measures concerning children, housing, and economic support. Piacenza follows the Codice Rosso framework, which prioritizes rapid protection and swift action by police, prosecutors, and courts for violence in the family and gender-based violence.

This guide is informational and does not replace individualized legal advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 112. If you can, consider speaking with a lawyer as early as possible.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

A lawyer can help you evaluate risk and plan immediate safety measures, including asking the police and prosecutor for urgent protective actions. A lawyer can assist you in filing a querela, which is a criminal complaint required for some offenses, and can prepare a clear statement for the authorities under the Codice Rosso procedure.

Legal counsel can request protective orders from the criminal court and civil court, including removal of the abuser from the home, restraining orders, and no-contact terms with electronic monitoring when available. Your lawyer can coordinate with hospitals using the Codice Rosa pathway and ensure timely forensic documentation of injuries and threats.

If you have children, a lawyer can safeguard custody, parenting time, and child support, and can ask the Family Court in Piacenza for supervised contact or suspension of contact when necessary. If you are separating or divorcing, a lawyer can manage those proceedings to reflect the abuse and protect your rights to housing and maintenance.

For non-Italian citizens, a lawyer can guide you on residence permits available to victims of domestic violence and on maintaining or converting your permit. A lawyer can also help you apply for gratuito patrocinio, which is state-funded legal aid, and can constitute you as a civil party to claim damages in the criminal case or bring a separate civil action for compensation.

Early legal advice is often crucial when there are firearms, digital harassment or stalking, economic control, coerced debt, or when an abuser ignores prior warnings or orders.

Local Laws Overview

Italian criminal law applies in Piacenza. Key offenses include Article 572 of the Criminal Code on mistreatment against family members or cohabitants, Article 612-bis on stalking, Article 612-ter on unlawful dissemination of sexually explicit images or videos, Article 582 on bodily injury, Article 610 on private violence, and Articles 609-bis and following on sexual violence. These crimes can be prosecuted even if some incidents occurred outside Piacenza when there are ongoing effects or related events locally.

Codice Rosso, established by Law 69 of 2019, requires rapid handling of domestic and gender-based violence. After a report, the prosecutor should hear the victim quickly, often within three days, to assess risk and protective needs. Violations involving minors, firearms, or repeated conduct are treated with particular urgency.

Criminal precautionary measures that protect victims include removal from the family home, restraining orders and stay-away orders from places frequented by the victim, bans on communication, seizure of weapons, curfew and electronic monitoring. Police can order an urgent removal from the family home in serious cases, subject to rapid judicial validation. Violating these measures is itself a crime and can lead to arrest.

Civil protection orders are available under Articles 342-bis and 342-ter of the Civil Code. The civil court can order the abuser to leave the home, prohibit contact, and require financial contributions. These orders can be granted quickly and can be coordinated with criminal measures. In family proceedings, the court can prioritize child safety, order supervised visitation, and suspend parental responsibility in serious cases.

Some offenses are prosecuted ex officio, meaning no querela is required, such as mistreatment in the family. Others begin with a querela filed by the victim within statutory deadlines. Time limits can be short, often three or six months from the last incident. For stalking and unlawful dissemination of intimate images the querela deadline is generally six months. Sexual violence has a longer deadline in many cases. Your lawyer can confirm which deadline applies and file the complaint on time.

Victims have rights to information, translation, and to be accompanied by a trusted person. Victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual violence, and related crimes can usually access gratuito patrocinio-state funded legal aid-regardless of income, once a complaint is filed. Victims may also seek compensation from the offender and, in some cases, limited state compensation for intentional violent crimes.

Administrative protections include the ammonimento of the Questore, which is a formal police warning available for stalking and certain domestic violence situations. It does not replace criminal action but can increase later penalties and may help in risk management. Firearms and licenses can be suspended or revoked for safety reasons.

Hospitals in Piacenza use the Codice Rosa pathway to provide confidential medical care, document injuries, and connect victims to law enforcement and anti-violence services. Health professionals have reporting duties when they treat injuries that indicate crimes prosecuted ex officio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conduct counts as domestic violence in Italy

Domestic violence includes physical assaults, threats, stalking, humiliation, isolation, controlling behaviors, economic deprivation, sexual coercion, and digital abuse by a spouse, partner, ex-partner, family member, or cohabitant. Italian law recognizes repeated mistreatment in the family, as well as single incidents of bodily harm, threats, stalking, and other crimes. Abuse does not need to be physical to be actionable.

How do I report domestic violence in Piacenza

If you are in danger, call 112. You can report to the Carabinieri or the Polizia di Stato, at any station or by contacting the Questura di Piacenza. You can also report through the hospital emergency department, which can activate the Codice Rosa pathway and inform the prosecutor when required. A lawyer or an anti-violence center can help you prepare a detailed statement and file a querela when needed.

What immediate protections can the authorities provide

Police and courts can urgently remove the abuser from the family home, issue restraining and no-contact orders, prohibit the abuser from approaching places you frequent, seize weapons, and impose electronic monitoring. These measures can be ordered quickly under Codice Rosso. If orders are violated, inform the police at once.

Do I need to file a querela for the case to proceed

Some crimes proceed automatically ex officio, such as mistreatment in the family. Others, like stalking and unlawful dissemination of intimate images, typically begin with a querela by the victim within a statutory deadline. Deadlines can be short, often six months for stalking. Speak with a lawyer promptly to preserve your rights.

How fast does Codice Rosso move my case

Codice Rosso requires the prosecutor to hear the victim quickly, often within three days from the report, and to promptly ask the judge for protection if needed. Timelines can vary based on workload and urgency, but the goal is swift risk assessment and early protective measures.

Can I obtain protection if we do not live together

Yes. Stalking, threats, assaults, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images can occur outside cohabitation. Criminal protective orders and civil protection orders can still apply to former partners and non-cohabiting partners. The court focuses on safety and risk, not just cohabitation status.

What happens to child custody when domestic violence is reported

The Family Court prioritizes child safety. The court can order exclusive custody, supervised visitation, or suspend contact if there is risk. Evidence of domestic violence is relevant to custody and parenting plans. Protective orders can include school and childcare safeguards and rules about handovers.

I am a foreign citizen. Will reporting affect my residence permit

Victims of domestic violence may qualify for a specific residence permit for victims of domestic violence or for protection on social grounds, independent of the abuser. Reporting also helps document risk if you seek renewal or conversion of your permit. Speak with a lawyer experienced in immigration and victim protection.

Is legal aid available if I cannot afford a lawyer

Victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual violence, and related crimes can usually access gratuito patrocinio-state funded legal aid-regardless of income once a complaint is filed. Your lawyer or the Bar Association in Piacenza can help you apply. You may also claim damages in the criminal case as a civil party.

What evidence should I collect and how do I keep it safe

Helpful evidence includes medical reports, photos of injuries or damage, threatening messages, call logs, social media screenshots, witness names, and any prior reports. Keep copies in a secure location or with a trusted person. Do not confront the abuser about evidence collection. A lawyer can help you preserve digital evidence in a way that is admissible.

Additional Resources

Emergency number 112 for police and urgent assistance. Medical emergency 118. If you are injured or unsafe, seek care and ask for the Codice Rosa pathway at the emergency department of the main hospital in Piacenza.

National helpline 1522 for violence and stalking. It is free, available 24 hours, multilingual, and can connect you to local anti-violence centers in the Province of Piacenza.

Questura di Piacenza and local Carabinieri stations for filing reports, requesting ammonimento, and discussing safety measures.

Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Piacenza for criminal proceedings and victim information services.

Ordine degli Avvocati di Piacenza for referrals to lawyers experienced in domestic violence and information about gratuito patrocinio-state funded legal aid.

AUSL Piacenza consultori familiari and social services for psychosocial support, documentation, and coordination with protection services for adults and minors.

Provincial anti-violence network services in Piacenza, including shelters and advocacy services. Call 1522 to be routed confidentially to the nearest center.

Next Steps

If you are in immediate danger, call 112. If you can safely leave, go to a secure place such as a police station, hospital, or an anti-violence center. Ask the hospital for the Codice Rosa pathway so injuries and threats are documented and reported when required.

As soon as possible, speak with a lawyer who handles domestic violence in Piacenza. Ask about urgent criminal protective measures, civil protection orders, child safety orders, and how to file a querela if needed. Bring any evidence you have, including messages, photos, and medical notes.

Consider contacting 1522 to connect with a local anti-violence center for a safety plan, shelter access if necessary, and practical help with housing, work, and childcare. If you are not an Italian citizen, ask your lawyer about permits available to victims of domestic violence.

Ask your lawyer to file for gratuito patrocinio-state funded legal aid-if you qualify. If appropriate, ask to be constituted as a civil party in the criminal case to claim damages, or plan a separate civil claim. Discuss how to protect your address and communications, and how to handle handovers or contact regarding children.

Keep a log of incidents, save evidence safely, and inform the police immediately if any protective order is violated. Regularly review your safety plan with your lawyer and support services as your situation changes.

You are not alone. Local authorities, healthcare providers, anti-violence services, and specialized lawyers in Piacenza can work together to protect you and your family.