Domestic Relationship

• If a California resident is going through a divorce, the legal term is a close or domestic relationship; therefore, any form of verbal harassment falls under the category of domestic abuse.
  
  

Legal Definition

• Verbal abuse is not defined by specific words or terms, but instead California defines verbal harassment as any words spoken intentionally and without purpose that would cause any "reasonable person" emotional distress.
  
  

Harassment in Divorce

• California law defines verbal harassment in a divorce as a form of domestic violence. If during the course of marriage, during the divorce proceedings, or after a divorce judgment is granted, either party verbally threatens or speaks to the other party in an unwarranted manner that only intends to cause severe emotional distress, it is considered verbal harassment.