Grand Rapids Domestic Violence Lawyer

Being charged with domestic violence is not a pleasant experience. It not only causes you to suffer through an immense amount of ridicule, but it also forces your family and friends to answer difficult questions that they may not be comfortable answering.

Sometimes this challenging period may cause a person to think irrationally and consider representing themselves instead of retaining the services of a Grand Rapids domestic violence attorney. It is important that you do not let any short-term discomfort or shame get in the way of you having the best legal representation possible.

It is impossible to know what could potentially happen as your case makes its way through the judicial process, and you will probably not have an answer for everything that could be thrown your way.

However, an experienced Grand Rapids domestic violence lawyer will be more than capable of handling anything the prosecution may try to use to convict a client. They have successfully defended many people facing criminal charges and are confident in their abilities to produce favorable outcomes. With this level of confidence, you can rest assured that there is a qualified Grand Rapids criminal lawyer that can help guide you every step of the way.

When facing a domestic violence charge, people commonly start to think about their own future and the future of their family. A domestic violence conviction will most certainly have a long-lasting impact on a person’s family and their finances.

Even with these serious consequences, many people will still undersell the value of having an adept Grand Rapids domestic violence lawyer by their side. They may see it as an extravagance or they may be looking out for their family’s financial future by saying that hiring an attorney is too expensive. It is vitally important that a person does not make this mistake.

An experienced domestic violence attorney in Grand Rapids could actually save a family money in the long run by negotiating down a person’s sentence, by changing the classification of their charge, or by having them proven innocent in a court of law.

A well-practiced attorney will serve in the best interest of their client and make sure that they are getting their money’s worth. They will work in the most effective and efficient way possible to ensure that their client is getting the best defense and that a favorable outcome is reached.

Laws concerning domestic violence can be found in sections 750.81-750.81a of the Michigan Penal Code. A person can be convicted of domestic violence if they are found guilty of assaulting a current or former spouse, a person who was previously in a relationship with the charged individual, a person who has a child with the charged individual, or a current or former resident of the person’s household.

This most commonly happens when a person has violated a personal order of protection. The police are allowed to make the arrest and the individual violating the order could be sentenced up to 93 days in jail or have to pay a $500 fine, making it important anyone accused consult with a domestic violence lawyer in Grand Rapids as soon as possible.

If the person charged has no prior convictions for domestic violence, they would be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to 93 days in jail or pay a $500 fine if convicted. If the assault does not involve the use of a weapon or the intent to murder but does cause serious injury, then the person could face up to one year in jail and pay a $1,000 fine.

If the person convicted of domestic violence has a prior criminal history with assault, assault and battery, felonious assault, assault with the attempt to murder, or a conviction of a similar charge in another state, they could face punishment of up to one year in jail or pay a $1,000 fine. Depending upon the judge, they could both pay the fine and spend the time in jail.

If the defendant has two or more prior convictions with these kinds of charges, they could be subject to facing up to two years in jail or paying a $2,500 fine if convicted. They could end up doing both, depending on the leniency of their particular judge. A skilled domestic violence lawyer in Grand Rapids, Michigan can help an individual reduce such penalties.

If you have been charged with domestic violence, it is important that you stop thinking about the many hypothetical situations that could play out over the course of your case. You need to focus on the present and get to work right away by retaining the services of a Grand Rapids domestic violence attorney with a proven defense track record.

This attorney will be able to defend their client against any situation that may arise and should hopefully put your mind at ease once the legal process has run its course.