How Much Does a Domestic Violence Attorney Cost?
Any type of abuse, assault or battery perpetrated by one person against another is considered a crime, but if that person is your spouse, fiancé, dating partner, the parent of your child, or a member of your household, the abusive behavior falls under California domestic violence laws, which make the crime much more serious. If you or a loved one is facing charges of domestic violence in San Diego, hiring an experienced domestic violence attorney as soon as possible can significantly improve your chances of receiving the best possible outcome in your case. For more information about domestic violence defense in San Diego and throughout Southern California, or to speak to a knowledgeable attorney about the charges you are facing, contact Sevens Legal, APC today at (619) 430-2355.
Affordable San Diego Domestic Violence Attorneys
Attempting to navigate the criminal justice system on your own can be confusing and frustrating without an extensive background in criminal defense, and may even be detrimental to your case, especially when facing charges as serious as domestic violence. At every step of the criminal justice process, having a qualified attorney on your side can mean a faster and more favorable resolution to your legal troubles. At Sevens Legal, APC, we pride ourselves on representing our clients every step of the way, and with more than 40 years of combined experience in the field of criminal law, our domestic violence lawyers have the skill and resources necessary to fight these criminal charges on your behalf.
Understanding the Domestic Violence Charges Against You
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, intimate partner violence or relationship abuse, is a broad term that covers a wide variety of behaviors occurring within the home that are considered by California law to be abusive, aggressive, threatening, or violent, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and coercion, reproductive coercion, digital abuse and financial abuse. In order to be covered under California domestic violence laws, the behavior must occur in a domestic setting, such as a marriage or domestic partnership, and must be used as a means for one person to gain or maintain control over the other. According to California Family Code Section 6211, the parties protected under the state’s domestic violence statutes include the following:
- A current or former spouse;
- A current or former dating partner;
- A domestic partner;
- A current or former cohabitant;
- A co-parent;
- Your child; or
- A close family relative
Penalties for a Domestic Violence Conviction
The two main charges brought against someone accused of domestic violence in San Diego are Penal Code § 273.5 PC, or Corporal Injury to a Spouse, and Penal Code § 243(e)(1), a less serious offense known as Domestic Battery. The penalties associated with these offenses may include jail time and significant fines, plus any number of other consequences, possibly including a loss of gun rights, a domestic violence restraining order, and/or restrictions on child custody or visitation rights. Sometimes, a San Diego domestic violence incident may result in other charges being sought by the court, possibly including child endangerment, child abuse, civil harassment, or elder or dependent adult abuse.
Perhaps the worst thing about domestic violence is that it never seems to go away. Even if you go to jail and serve time for domestic abuse, your conviction will remain on your criminal record and can be used against you in subsequent criminal offenses for up to seven years after your initial conviction. If you are convicted on felony charges of Corporal Injury to a Spouse, you may incur a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes sentencing law. According to this law, if you have a prior conviction of a serious felony on your record, you could be sentenced to state prison for twice the term otherwise required by law, and for a subsequent felony conviction, you could face a sentence of 25 years to life.
How a Domestic Violence Attorney Can Help
Felony domestic violence offenses in San Diego carry harsh penalties that can strip you of your most basic rights and personal freedoms, and even a misdemeanor conviction on domestic abuse charges can follow you for the rest of your life. Once you’ve been labeled an “abuser,” that’s what people will see when they look at you, regardless of whether or not you actually committed the crime, and this can affect not only your personal life, but your professional life as well. With a domestic violence conviction on your record, you may, for example, have your professional license revoked or severely restricted, and you may also be prohibited from applying for certain licenses in the future.
Domestic violence laws in California were enacted to protect the rights of those suffering abuse in their own homes, but the system is flawed, and sometimes, innocent people end up being arrested for a crime they didn’t commit. For example, your ex-spouse may make a false allegation of domestic abuse out of anger or jealousy, or to gain the upper hand in divorce proceedings or a child custody case, which may result in you facing charges of domestic violence. Or, if you acted in self-defense during a mutual struggle and the other person calls the police, you could also be wrongfully accused of domestic violence.
Emotions typically run high in domestic abuse situations, and this can result in the wrong person facing any number of serious criminal charges. Fortunately, Sevens Legal, APC, has experience fighting charges in a wide range of criminal defense cases, and our legal team consists of a former prosecutor and a California board-certified criminal law specialist, which gives our firm a unique perspective on the inner workings of the California criminal justice system and the best defense strategy for your specific situation. Having a knowledgeable domestic violence attorney on your side can ensure that you fully understand your legal rights and use the strongest possible defense in your case.
Free Domestic Violence Consultation in San Diego
When a loved one is arrested on charges of domestic violence, it can be confusing and terrifying, especially if you don’t have a clear understanding of the California criminal justice system and the various ways in which a domestic violence conviction can affect the rest of your loved one’s life. In addition to the legal consequences associated with domestic violence charges, there is a social stigma tied to abuse that can be incredibly difficult to overcome. In most cases, your best chance at getting some real answers and having your domestic violence charges dropped or reduced to a lesser offense is hiring an experienced domestic violence defense lawyer who can inform you of your options and litigate aggressively on your behalf. Sevens Legal, APC, provides a free consultation and quote for your domestic violence case in San Diego, so you can receive a fair evaluation of your case before making any legal decisions.
How to Contact Our Domestic Violence Lawyers
Few people ever recover their reputation after being charged with domestic violence, not to mention the impact domestic abuse charges can have on your family, and especially your children. If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence charges in San Diego, or if you have been the victim of a domestic violence incident, don’t hesitate to get qualified legal help. Call Sevens Legal, APC, today at (619) 430-2355 and take advantage of a free evaluation and case quote to determine your best course of action. Our legal team is ready to represent your San Diego domestic violence case. All you have to do is call.
