Domestic Violence Cases Carry a Lot of Questions. Consult Our Domestic Violence FAQ Page to Stay Informed.

Domestic Violence FAQ's

Criminal Defense Domestic Violence FAQ's

What is domestic violence? - Domestic violence refers to abuse that is physical, sexual, and/or psychological in nature. Incidents of domestic violence usually take place within a family setting and can happen between spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, siblings, and other close family members. Domestic abuse behaviors may include: sexual assault, physical assault, verbal threats, harassment, stalking, or manipulation.

Is domestic violence a misdemeanor or felony? - Domestic violence is usually classified as a misdemeanor. However, domestic violence charges may be classified as a felony if the offender caused: injury to a minor, sexually assaulted the victim, sexually assaulted a minor, caused the victim bodily harm, has prior domestic violence convictions, or has prior criminal convictions.

What happens if I am convicted of domestic violence? - Each case varies and the legal consequences will depend upon the seriousness and extent of your criminal charges. If you are convicted of domestic violence, you may be sentenced with jail time, fines, probation, community service, or counseling. Additionally, you may have to adhere to the terms of a restraining order or orders of protection.

Can my domestic violence charges be dropped? - Once a person is charged with domestic violence by California law enforcement, his/her charges cannot be dropped unless the prosecutor handling his/her cases decides to drop them. This means that even if the person who pressed the charges wishes to have the charges dropped, he/she will not have the power to do so once law enforcement is involved.

Should I hire an attorney? - If you have been charged with domestic violence, it is in your best interest to retain the services of a qualified criminal defense attorney. You will want to hire a defense lawyer who has successfully handled a variety of prior domestic violence cases and who is familiar with your local judicial system.

What can an attorney do for me? - Your domestic violence attorney will provide valuable legal counsel throughout the criminal process and also place every effort into maintaining your defense both in and out of court. In some cases, your domestic violence lawyer can negotiate with prosecutors to have your charges dismissed or your sentence reduced. Often times, an attorney can arrange for his/client to be placed on probation or to undergo counseling instead of having to spend time in jail.

Request Your Free Case Review Today

When You're Ready to Talk, We're Here to Listen.

- Name:
  
  Please enter your name.
- Phone
  
  This isn't a valid phone number.
- Email:
  
  Please enter your email address.
  
  This isn't a valid email address.
- Are you a new client?
  
  Please make a selection.
- Message
  
  Please enter a message.

What Sets the Law Offices of
Virginia L. Landry Apart?

Rated a "Top DUI Attorney" and Board Certified in DUI Defense
Achieved a Perfect 10 Out of 10 Superb Rating On Avvo
Past President of the West Orange County Bar Association
Hundreds of Trials and Thousands of Motions Achieved for Clients

What Our Clients Are Saying

Protecting Our Clients Is Our Number One Priority

“Fantastic outcome! I truly appreciate all the hard work and correspondence you and your staff has provided!”
T.W.
“Your staff always kept me in the loop, they were sincere, and they gave me a sense of peace knowing I was in good hands.”
T.W.
“A special thanks for the handling of the court appearance and taking care of the matter in one day!”
Previous Client
“I recommend everyone who needs an attorney to come here. Amazing people and they care.”
M.A.
“She listened carefully and respectfully. Her knowledge was very impressive and hit on all that points that I was concerned with.”
D.P.
“I hired Betty from the Law Offices of Virginia Landry and the judge finally went ahead and dismissed it.”
T.F.
“ I received the best court decision due to their devotion to my case, their knowledge of the law and their persistence and thoroughness.”
S.A.
“All staff were very polite, kind and always responded on my call immediately. My case was dismissed. Thank you for a great service!”
J.
“Thank you! You saved my life.”
O.H.
“I was finally treated fairly by the DMV because I had a competent and prepared attorney, and the DMV knew it.”
Previous Client
“I am grateful that we chose Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry. You exceeded my expectations.”
J.A.

Read Client Reviews