While being accused of any crime in Washington state is a big deal, there are few crimes that carry the weight of domestic violence. If you find yourself in a position where you are being falsely accused of domestic violence, it is important to know the steps necessary to protect yourself. A domestic violence accusation can land you in the court of public opinion far before you end up in a court of law. According to Findlaw, if you are being falsely accused of domestic violence, it is important to not say anything that can be used against you, and you absolutely should not escalate the situation.
The first people that you should contact are your own family. You want your family to hear the situation from your own mouth as opposed to them hearing it through the grapevine. The next thing that you should do is change all of your passwords to your accounts and any passcodes to devices. It is possible that the person trying to falsely accuse you of domestic abuse will sign into a message system and send threatening messages while pretending to be you.
It is also advisable to contact a legal professional at this point. Whether or not the case has been taken to the police, often you will want to start building your defense well before you will need it in court. An experienced attorney can help you talk through the situation, as it can be emotionally traumatizing and difficult to process. Seeking out other avenues of support and recourse like mental health professionals may also be helpful in this situation.