Being charged with a domestic violence crime is a serious matter. Not only can those charges cost you your freedom, they can damage your reputation and relationships, including your access to your children. Domestic violence should be taken seriously and victims must be protected, but it is also important that people accused of domestic abuse receive a fair trial.
Domestic violence lawyers, Amy Beaton and Larissa Kiers, have spent decades fighting for justice as criminal defense attorneys. In their over 50 combined years of practice, they have handled countless criminal trials, including numerous domestic violence matters. They are fierce advocates to protect the rights of individuals going through the legal process, whether they have experienced domestic violence or are accused of it.
While many accusations of domestic violence are justified, some are the result of self-defense, misunderstanding, or even intentional misstatements. Whatever your situation, it’s important that the truth comes out. You need to work with domestic violence lawyers who are committed to protecting your interests and have the skills to get you the best possible outcome. Contact Beaton & Kiers to get the help you deserve.
In New Hampshire, certain acts are considered domestic violence if they are committed against a spouse or other family member, a current or former intimate partner, or someone you live with. These acts include:
Unlike many other crimes, police do not need a warrant to arrest someone for a domestic violence crime. It is also not necessary that someone appears to be in imminent danger for the police to make an arrest.
There are two types of domestic violence proceedings in New Hampshire: criminal proceedings that can result in fines, probation, or jail time, and civil proceedings that determine whether someone is entitled to a protective order against an alleged abuser. Although the process to get a protective order does not take place in the criminal courts, violating a protective order is a crime. And while civil proceedings are not intended to punish the person accused, they can have that effect: if there is a protective order against you, you may be restricted from going to certain places, having weapons, or seeing your children.
Criminal domestic violence matters are initiated by prosecutors. Depending on the circumstances, these matters may be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor and can result in jail time. Civil domestic violence matters are initiated by an alleged victim seeking a protective order, and the court must simply find that it is more likely than not that the alleged abuse happened.
While a person who is seeking a protective order in a civil matter can choose to drop that case, it is up to a prosecutor whether to drop charges in a criminal case, even if the person who made the accusations no longer wants to press charges.
Domestic violence lawyers Amy Beaton and Larissa Kiers represent defendants in criminal domestic violence matters, and individuals who are seeking or opposing a protective order in a civil matter.
If you are facing charges of domestic violence, including violation of a protective order against you, you need the strongest possible defense to protect your freedom and your future. Amy Beaton and Larissa Kiers have successfully defended many clients against allegations of domestic violence over the past 20 years. They know New Hampshire law, and the courts throughout the state, inside and out.
Amy and Larissa understand what you are going through, and they will advocate for you with every tool at their disposal. They also recognize that you are more than the situation you are facing, and they will treat you with the respect that you deserve.
To learn more about domestic violence law in New Hampshire, and how we can protect your rights, contact Beaton & Kiers to schedule a consultation with our domestic violence lawyers today.
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