Domestic violence and abuse are not always as obvious as one might think. In fact, a victim could be in an abusive relationship for a number of years without even being aware of it. Certain domestic violence situations do not occur at the start of the relationship; instead they develop over time. It is important to be mindful of these following warning signs to not only protect yourself, but to keep your family safe as well.
Abuse may take the form of a manipulative or overly controlling partner. If you are worried about such issues in your relationship, look for some of the possible warning signs, including:
Your partner overly romances you. A controlling partner is going to want to make you feel special in order to build your trust quickly. This way, the bond will grow and he or she will be able to persuade you into believing him or her without a second thought. The gifts and abundance of attention may also just be a distraction of the abnormal behavior to which he or she is prone.
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While divorces are often contentious, and parties say harmful things they later regret, usually these cases are not violent in nature. But unfortunately, on occasion, one party is so hurt by the divorce that they feel the need to threaten the other spouse. In some cases, violence and threats are the reasons for the divorce. The laws of Illinois do not require you to put up with this harassment, however. If you feel that your former spouse intends to do you harm, you can seek an order of protection from the court that 
