how can a lawyer help me with my domestic violence case

by Prof. May Luettgen 8 min read

Attorneys who assist domestic abuse victims can help you seek a restraining order (sometimes called a protection order, protective order, or order for protection) to keep your abuser away from you.

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How do I find a good domestic violence lawyer?

How a Lawyer Can Help with Domestic Violence Cases. Domestic Violence Lawyers can help with a domestic violence case in a variety of ways. They may help the victim of domestic violence, or help defend against charges of domestic abuse. Discover why you should hire a lawyer to help you with your case. GUIDE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE LAW. » What Constitutes …

What does a domestic violence lawyer do?

Oct 26, 2016 · You should consider hiring an attorney who specializes in domestic violence because he or she is well conversant with the various laws that govern domestic violence. 1. A domestic violence lawyer will you stop stalking by your aggressor . If a member of your family is stalking or following you around your home, workplace, destroying your property or sending …

How do you defend against domestic violence charges?

How can an attorney help you with domestic violence? Your lawyer is supposed to be your advocate. They are there to represent and fight for your interests. They can make strategic decisions, including what evidence to present or witnesses on your behalf. But, when it comes down to it, you are the only person who can decide about the settlement.

What does the lrcvaw do for victims of domestic violence?

File for Custody or Financial Support. If the perpetrator is your spouse, a domestic violence attorney can help you start the divorce process, which will include addressing related legal matters like your right to spousal support, your share of marital property, and child custody. File an Injury Lawsuit.

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Which defense is frequently used in domestic violence cases?

Self-defenseSelf-defense is one of the most common defenses to domestic violence charges. If you claim that you were acting to defend yourself or your children, you could have your charges dropped.May 1, 2020

What profession has the most domestic violence cases?

police officersSo which occupation has the highest rate? That would be police officers. Studies have found that a minimum of 40 percent of families of officers have experienced some type of domestic violence. This can include anything from harassment and stalking to homicide.Jul 20, 2016

Can a domestic violence case be dismissed in California?

The only person capable of dropping domestic violence charges in California is the state prosecutor working on the case. Prosecutors investigate criminal cases and allegations brought to their attention and represent the victim in court.

Where does most domestic violence occur?

Kentucky. Kentucky has the highest domestic violence statistics in the United States, with 45.3% of women and 35.5% of men having experienced domestic violence.

What profession commits the most murders?

Taxi- cab driversTaxi- cab drivers and chauffeurs have the highest homicide rate of any occupa- tion, 17.9 fatalities per 100,000 work- ers, or 36 times the risk of all employed individuals. This group comprises 0.2 percent of employed workers in the United States, but accounts for about 7 percent of work-related homicides.

How do you get a prosecutor to drop charges?

There are several ways for criminal defendants to convince a prosecutor to drop their charges. They can present exculpatory evidence, complete a pretrial diversion program, agree to testify against another defendant, take a plea deal, or show that their rights were violated by the police.Jul 14, 2021

How can charges be dropped before court date?

There are ways to have charges against an accused or defendant dropped even before the trial date. The typical action is to file a motion to dismiss. The defendant's lawyer can invoke various reasons for a motion to dismiss.Feb 2, 2022

Can you withdraw a victim statement?

Once you have made a victim personal statement you cannot withdraw or change it. However, if you feel you have found further longer term effects of the crime you may be able to make another statement that updates the information provided in the first one.

What is the Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women?

The Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women (LRCVAW) helps advocates and lawyers with issues of interstate custody where domestic violence is involved. The LRC can also try to assist survivors of domestic violence to find legal representation for interstate custody cases. They do not help with international custody cases.

What is the Resource Center on Domestic Violence?

Operates the Resource Center on Domestic Violence and other ongoing projects, including ones on: improving the court system’s response to family violence cases; providing training for judges and court workers nationwide; and developing and promoting model state legislation on domestic and family violence.

What is the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women?

The National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women is resource and advocacy center for battered women charged with any crime in which their history of abuse is relevant (or potentially relevant) to their legal defense.

What is the Hague Domestic Violence Project?

The Hague Domestic Violence Project provides information for mothers, lawyers, judges, and advocates involved in a domestic violence case brought under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Their goal is to help mothers, attorneys, judges and advocates incorporate child exposure to domestic violence as a defense to the otherwise required return of the child to his home country.

How to contact BWJP?

Callers can reach an advocate during normal business hours (M-F 8:30-4:30 Central Time) at 800-903-0111, prompt 1. You can also reach BWJP through this email contact form.

What is the phone number for the NRCDV?

Phone 2: TTY: (800) 553-2508. URL: https://www.nrcdv.org/. Provides comprehensive information and resources (including videos, publications and information packs), policy development, and technical assistance designed to enhance community responses to and prevention of domestic violence.

What does a good attorney do for domestic violence?

A good attorney will take any domestic violence allegation seriously, and they’ll listen to your story without judging you or exposing you to more risk. While you can attempt to represent yourself in a domestic violence case, the legal process is complicated and requires years of study to understand.

What to do if you have been victim of domestic violence?

If you’ve been the victim of domestic violence, it’s very important to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible so you can protect yourself, your children, and your loved ones from further harm. At Myers Law Firm, our attorneys have experience helping victims of domestic violence in Mecklenburg County, and we can listen to your story, explain your rights, and discuss your legal options, including the option to file for an injunction that can put a stop to abuse immediately.

What do you call a person who is subjected to physical violence?

If someone has subjected you to physical violence or threats of violence, you should call the police immediately. However, if you’re not prepared to take that step, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website for additional resources.

What can you recover from a personal injury lawsuit?

A lawsuit for assault or personal injury can help you recover financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial losses that an abuser caused through domestic violence.

What is a DVPO?

Victims of domestic violence can file a Complaint for a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO), which is also commonly called a restraining order. A DVPO can prohibit an abuser from contacting you, coming within a certain distance of you, sharing a home with you, and possessing firearms. Get an Ex Parte Temporary Order.

How to file a domestic violence complaint?

1. You’ll file a domestic violence complaint and receive a hearing in front of a magistrate or judge without the other party present. 2. If the judge finds that domestic violence has occurred, they will issue a temporary protection order. 3.

How to get divorced from a domestic violence victim?

If the perpetrator is your spouse, a domestic violence attorney can help you start the divorce process, which will include addressing related legal matters like your right to spousal support, your share of marital property, and child custody. File an Injury Lawsuit.

What are the types of domestic violence?

Protecting Victims. Domestic violence can include many types of abuse including spousal abuse, family abuse, and dating abuse. Domestic violence can also include emotional abuse as well as physical abuse.

What is attorney profile?

Attorney profiles include the biography, education and training, and client recommendations of an attorney to help you decide who to hire. Use the contact form on the profiles to connect with local attorneys for legal advice.

Is it a good idea to research your lawyer before hiring?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can: Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state.

What happens if you violate a protective order?

The police will arrest the abuser. You can then contact the court to report the violation. For violating a protective order, the abuser could face contempt charges.

What to do if you have been abused?

Also called a “restraining order,” a protective order will prohibit the abuser from doing certain things, such as contacting you or coming within a certain distance of you or your children.

How to stop a child from being abused?

Call the police. In order to stop the abuse, you need to seek help from the police. You can call 9-1-1 if you are in the middle of an attack, or you can stop by the police station when the abuser is away from home.

How to deal with allegations of abuse?

Cooperate with the police. The police will investigate your allegations of abuse. If they think the situation warrants it, then they will forward the case to the prosecutor, who will then decide whether or not to bring criminal charges against the abuser. You should cooperate with the police in every way possible.

What do you wear with a tie?

For men, this means dress slacks, a dress shirt that buttons up (and that is tucked in), along with a tie. You should also wear nice dress shoes with dark-colored socks. Women also need to look conservative . Wear a business suit (skirt or pantsuit is fine) or else pair a nice blouse with dress slacks.

What happens if you plead guilty to domestic violence?

Although pleading out means that you will have to admit your guilt, you might be able to get the guilty plea “held in abeyance.” Under this arrangement, you complete a term of probation and, at the end, the case is dismissed or the charge is reduced.

What happens if you violate the conditions of your release?

If you violate the conditions of your release, then you can be arrested again. Once you are re-arrested, the judge will look at you in a different light. Now you are someone the judge knows has broken the law. Accordingly, your likelihood of ever getting the domestic violence charges dismissed has been greatly reduced.

What should a lawyer do when a case is dismissed?

The lawyer should approach the prosecutor and tell the prosecutor a good reason why the case should be dismissed. It is important that the lawyer is very polite to the prosecutor, and has some form of documentation to support the reason why the State should drop the charge.

How to get an assault case dropped?

This may come as a surprising step in how to get your assault case dropped; You need to dress in a suit, with a tie for every single court setting . Ladies, you need to dress in a conservative suit as well. Cover tattoos with clothing or tattoo cover cream. Remove facial piercings. Dress like you are an executive every time you show up to court. You may have to appear for court 12 times before your case is dismissed. Every single time, your appearance should be totally professional. Many people may say that it only matters how you look when you are at your jury trial. I disagree. I have gotten more dismissals for clients who dress well than for those who don’t. The prosecutors sometimes look directly at my clients, when I am negotiating the case during pretrial conferences. The prosecutors are people. They want to win their trials, just like defense attorneys do. They know that defendants who dress like executives are less likely to be perceived by a jury as criminals.

Why is it important to file a subpoena?

For instance, the lawyer can make a Motion for Discovery of Exculpatory Evidence, which would require the prosecutor to turn over and favorable evidence it has for you on your case. The lawyer should also file subpoenas so that all of the witnesses that are necessary will be timely notified of the trial setting. When prosecutors see that subpoenas and motions are filed, they also see that you are (at least somewhat) prepared for trial.

What happens if the state refuses to dismiss assault?

If the State still refuses to dismiss the assault family violence charge, the case must be brought to trial, and leave the verdict in the hands of the jury.

What to do if the police ignore your side of the story?

Provide your own Record – If the police ignored your side of the story and didn’t write in their report what really happened, be proactive and make a record of it yourself. Writing down what happened is useful for many reasons. Your memory will be more fresh closer to the incident than latter. A trial might not happen many months so this written record will be helpful for your attorney in preparing your defense.

Can a case be stopped in Bexar County?

Unfortunately, once the report is made, there is no way to stop the case from rolling through the Bexar County prosecutor’s system. It is possible that the intake department will decide not to pursue the case, but that is left to the discretion of the City, and is not in the hands of the reporting victim.

Can you go to an appointed lawyer in Bexar County?

By the way, Do NOT go with an appointed lawyer, especially if the case is a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor lawyers are paid horribly low amounts of money in Bexar County ($140.00 for pleas and $500 for TRIALS). The appointed lawyer simply cannot afford to do as good a job for you as would be necessary in the event of trial.

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