What kind of relationship status does NOT qualify someone as a victim under the Domestic Violence Act?

Under the Domestic Violence Act, the definition of a victim includes individuals who have specific types of relationships with the alleged abuser. Those recognized as having a victim status typically involve intimate or significant connections, such as household members or individuals in a current dating relationship. This is because the law is designed to address situations of abuse that arise in more serious or ongoing relationships where there is an expectation of trust or emotional involvement.

Casual acquaintances do not meet the stipulations set forth in the act because the relationship does not typically involve the level of intimacy or interpersonal dynamics that would lead to the circumstances requiring legal protection under this legislation. This is why individuals in such relationships are not considered victims under the Domestic Violence Act; the nature of their connection lacks the close ties that could potentially give rise to domestic violence situations.

On the other hand, household members and individuals in current dating relationships are expressly mentioned in the act, because they have ongoing interactions that can lead to incidents of domestic violence, thus qualifying them as victims. The inclusion of emancipated minors reflects the understanding that if they have been granted independence, they may still have relationships that could fit the criteria for victimization.