Do I Need A Lawyer for Domestic Violence Charges?

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If you ever find yourself charged with, or even suspected of, a criminal offense, it doesn’t matter whether or not you think you did it. You need legal counsel immediately. So, if you have been charged with a domestic violence offense, from assault to violating an order, and have been asking yourself, “Do I need a lawyer for domestic violence charges,” the answer is “Yes.” Stop asking and start looking for a good lawyer. Yes, you absolutely need an attorney on your side.

It doesn’t matter if you didn’t commit the crime you are being charged with. Allegations of domestic violence are a big deal. The prosecutor won’t be looking to take it easy on you and the judge probably won’t, either. And if you don’t have a lawyer fighting for you, it is that much easier for the system to throw the book at you. You may end up with a conviction and face the maximum punishment. You need a lawyer.

The Charges Might Not Be Dropped

Folks often think it’s easy to drop criminal charges if the couple gets back together. This is a common misconception. It can start as an argument between a married couple, a dating couple, or family members. Someone calls the police. It may have been nothing more than an argument. No physical abuse occurs. But once the police show up, they may cite you for domestic violence and make an arrest. Your significant other might not even want to charge you. Or they may have a change of heart and wish to drop the whole thing. But at this point, it is out of their hands. The police can’t simply toss out the arrest and let you go. 

You will get put in their vehicle and taken to the magistrate’s office. And you may spend up to 48 hours in jail before your bond even gets set and you can be released. After that, it is up to the prosecutor to determine whether to proceed with the charges. And that process can take months, if not a year or more.

Now, your significant other not wanting to cooperate with law enforcement and telling the district attorney they want to drop everything might help. But if the sheriff’s office and the prosecutor still believe you are a threat, they won’t dismiss the charges. You need someone to convince them to drop the case. Don’t put off hiring an attorney assuming everything will go away just because your significant other won’t press charges.

Charges Usually Come Quickly

This isn’t a situation where you’re going to be waiting weeks, if not months, for charges to come down against you. No, in most cases you will be arrested immediately, taken to the magistrate, put in jail, and face a court date in a matter of weeks if not days. Maybe even the very next morning if you’re still in jail. Even if you think you have experience with the court system, you will discover domestic violence cases are handled more aggressively. This means you don’t have time to sit around and ponder the need for a domestic violence attorney near you. You need an attorney and you need one right away.

Time To Build Your Case

How do you build a defense, quickly and efficiently? Time is ticking. It is critical to hire an attorney as soon as possible. Domestic charges are serious, even if you contend the charges are false or baseless. You need a law firm, their lawyers, and their legal team at your disposal to begin crafting a defense for you.

The more time you have, the better your defense will be. You’ll need the officers’ notes. You’ll need the officers’ videos. How long will they keep them if you don’t try to get them right away? Once the videos are gone, they’re gone. Your attorney will also answer any questions you have. They will help break down what will take place leading up to court, inside the court, and after it. You don’t want to be caught off guard in the courtroom, especially when your freedom is at stake.

By hiring your attorney sooner rather than later, you give them the time they need to build a case and defend your innocence. The hope is the ADA will drop the charges. But if the charges don’t get dropped, you’ll need a lawyer to try the case and to attempt to get you found not guilty.

If you are forced to deal with the legal system, it can be incredibly confusing. Don’t expose yourself further and risk an unnecessary conviction by not hiring an attorney. With a good lawyer on your side, you will have time to prepare your case and have a robust defense. If you are in the greater Charlotte area, the Catawba Valley, or the Foothills, and have been charged with domestic violence, give Wilson, Lackey, Rohr & Hall, P.C. a call.