Can You Contact Your Partner After a Domestic Assault Charge in BC?

As we have mentioned before, in Canada, “domestic assault” is not a specific legal term. It merely means some type of assault against a current or former intimate partner or family member. Domestic assault is used in common parlance, but not in legal circles. In fact, we are talking about assault, plain and simple, and there is a long list of types of assaults including, but not limited to, sexual assault, assault with a weapon, and aggravated assault.

Also, when the lay person uses the term assault, he or she may mean abuse, and there is also a long list of types of abuses including physical abuse, financial abuse, coercive behaviour, and the list goes on.

The question in the title is whether you can contact your partner after a domestic assault charge. The better question might be should you contact your partner after a domestic assault charge is laid against you.

The answer is possibly, but it is generally not recommended. What you can and cannot do depends on what conditions were imposed by the court or the police when you were charged. Usually there is a no-contact order that may be part of “An Undertaking” which would be signed at the police station or as a condition of your release following a Bail Order.

The point here is that it is not a good idea to be talking to the person who is involved in your case and may be a victim or at least a witness. Discuss this at length with your lawyer, but even if you technically can talk to your partner, it would likely not be a good idea. 

If you have been charged with assault, please contact Gagan Nahal for a free consultation in Vancouver at (604) 527-4769 as soon as possible. Mr. Nahal’s law practice focuses on criminal defence law, and he has extensive experience in this area of the law. 

Gagan Nahal is a criminal defence lawyer based in Surrey, British Columbia, although he has represented clients across Canada. He works vigorously and tirelessly defending his clients. 

If you have any questions about this article or you would like to talk to Mr. Nahal, please call him directly at (604) 527-4769.