As Virginia residents brace for the national spotlight as George Huguely's trial for the alleged murder of University of Virginia student Yeardley Love, there has also been a sharp increase in the number of filings for protective orders in the state. Following Love's death in 2010, the Virginia legislature passed a new law that was meant to make it easier for people to get a protective order and reduce the amount of domestic violence in the state.

Domestic violence is truly a tragedy and when it goes hand in hand with divorce, it makes a separation even more difficult. While the divorce is now more complex, family law attorneys will be able to file the necessary paperwork to help keep you safe while also working to end your marriage. With this new law, however, it will hopefully be easier for divorce attorneys to protect their clients from abusive husbands or wives.

The old law only allowed a family or household member to get a protective order, which typically limited protective orders to married couples or couples that lived together. With the reform, however, people who are in dating relationships may now use this important tool to ensure their safety from an abusive partner. The new law has also made it possible for someone outside of a romantic relationship to file for a protective order; as long as the victim was threatened or abused, he or she can apply for a protective order.

While a restraining order is an important tool for many men and women in Virginia who have been married to physically, emotionally, verbally or psychologically abusive spouses, there is a concern that the 17 percent increase may make it more difficult for married people to get a protective order because of the flood of applications. Last year alone, there were 70,000 protective orders granted.

Source: The Washington Post, "Number of requests for restraining orders explodes in Virginia," Justin Jouvenal, Feb. 4, 2012