how much does a lawyer cost for domestic violence

by Dolores Prosacco 4 min read

You can expect to pay between $3,500 and $15,000 for a good, retained domestic violence defense attorney (depending on the facts and circumstances of the case). The cost to retain a domestic violence attorney is determined by many factors, including the complexity of the case and the importance of the outcome.

Full Answer

How much does a domestic violence lawsuit cost?

Explanation. How Much Does A Lawyer Charge For Domestic Violence? Charges relating to domestic violence can result in fines, a period of probation or a prison sentence if charged very seriously. As an example, violence involving disorderly conduct is relatively minor. If you commit the offense you will be fined $250 and sentenced to up to 15 ...

How much does it cost to represent a domestic violence case?

Aggravated Domestic Assault – this is a second-degree felony, and a conviction could result in 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. If a weapon were brandished in the crime, the charges become a first-degree felony and could mean a lifetime in prison and $10,000 in fines. All Domestic Abuse Convictions – any person convicted of a ...

Do I need a lawyer for a domestic violence case?

You are expected to pay around $2500 and $10,000 for a retained and experienced domestic violence defense attorney. The fee of the domestic violence defense attorney is determined with a lot of factors that include the complexity of your case and also the importance of that outcome. If you are accused of the Spousal abuse, domestic assault, and domestic violence, then you will …

How much does a divorce case with significant violence cost?

Mar 20, 2020 — The average cost of a criminal defense lawyer is $8,000 with average prices ranging from $1,000 – $15,000 in the US for 2020 according to (29) … It is important to hire an attorney immediately after an arrest for a domestic violence case for a number of reasons: these cases are usually very emotionally (30) …

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What to ask a domestic violence lawyer?

When you call a domestic violence lawyer, or law firm, ask them to clearly lay out their services and fees. Keep in mind, that each law firm, and individual lawyer, will have their own set of legal fees as well as the types of services they provide.

What kind of attorney can represent you in a domestic violence case?

A divorce attorney, criminal law attorney, as well as a family law attorney, can represent you.

How much does a domestic violence lawyer cost?

You can expect to pay between $2,500 and $10,000 for a good, retained domestic violence defense attorney. The cost of a domestic violence lawyer is determined by many factors, including the complexity of the case and the importance of the outcome.

How long do you have to go to jail for domestic violence?

In determining your budget for a defense attorney, you must consider the consequences that apply to your unique situation. Some of the possible direct and collateral consequences of domestic violence are as follows: 1 up to 93 days in jail for a first offense domestic violence, 2 up to 1 year in jail for aggravated domestic violence, 3 up to 1 year if there is a prior conviction for domestic violence, 4 up to 5 years in prison if there are 2 or more prior convictions, 5 up to 2 years of probation for a misdemeanor, 6 up to 5 years of probation for a felony, 7 loss of custody or visitation rights, 8 difficulty getting promotions or employment, 9 loss or suspension of a professional license, 10 extensive fines and costs, 11 forced therapy, drug and alcohol abstinence, testing, education, community service, house arrest, travel limitations, a lifetime bar on possessing firearms, and more.

What are the penalties for domestic violence?

The possible punishment you face increases significantly if the prosecutor brings charges against you with the domestic violence enhancement. Therefore, you face the maximum penalty for the underlying charge and additional conditions for domestic violence such as: 1 Automatic protection order during the case; 2 Probation with mandatory treatment and counseling; 3 House arrest; 4 Loss of right to keep and bear firearms; and 5 Habitual offender designation.

How long can you go to jail for violating a protective order?

You could spend a year in jail and receive a $250 fine if you violate the protective order. However, you could receive as much as 18 months in jail along with a $500 fine if you have a prior conviction for violating a protective order.

What is habitual offender?

The habitual offender designation is a separate charge that the prosecutor could tack onto your original sentence if you have three domestic violence convictions. The convictions do not have to be with the same victim.

What is a Class 5 felony?

If you lose your domestic violence case and are a habitual offender, you face a Class 5 felony. The mandatory parole term for a Class 5 felony is years parole that you must serve after your prison term for the underlying charge. Violating the automatic protective order is a crime as well. Violating a protective order is a Class 2 misdemeanor ...

Can domestic violence be enhanced?

In reality, the prosecution can add a domestic violence enhancement to any crime. A conviction for any one of these charges could result in jail or prison time in addition to the domestic violence enhancements. Moreover, you need to understand that aggravating factors could also increase the penalty you face.

Is a misdemeanor assault a felony?

As a consequence, misdemeanor assault could become a felony if the alleged victim is pregnant when the alleged assault took place.

Should I hire a domestic violence lawyer in Colorado?

If you have domestic violence charges in Colorado, you probably realize you should consider hiring a domestic violence defense attorney to help you. However, you may be worried about the expense of hiring a domestic violence defense lawyer if you were forced to leave your house, your possessions, and your family behind because of the charges.

Legal fees

Legal fees for domestic violence cases vary based on client needs and case type, and for that reason a flat rate is uncommon. "I occasionally offer a flat fee for criminal representation but never for family law cases," says Robert Terry of Law Office of Robert Terry, LLC.

Trial costs

Trial will substantially increase the cost of a case because of the time spent on discovery, preparation and the actual trial, explains Terry of Law Office of Robert Terry, LLC.

Additional cost factors

Other factors that can impact cost are the case’s complexity and whether other cases are tied to it, such as criminal cases, divorces and paternity cases, says Bryan W. Caddell, P.C. Additional factors include where the case is filed, who the opposing attorney is, who the judge is, and scheduling issues.

Domestic violence cases

Legal fees for each domestic violence case will vary depending on case circumstances, geographic location, the lawyer hired and more. Here are several examples of case costs:

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