Do you live in the state of California? You may want to be caught up on your local law and regulations. To choose a family lawyer or family law attorney is to take a smart first step when delving into the field of law — the Golden State sees millions of issues brought to court every year, from drunk driving to divorce filings to child custody. No matter how obscure or common your issue is, lawyers of differing fields are available to assist you with the necessary paperwork, meetings and resource gathering. Below is a simple list of some of the most frequent reasons people seek the aid of a Lemoore lawyer.
Drunk Driving
One of the most rampant issues in the United States is that of drunk driving. Short for ‘driving under the influence’, a DUI is issued when an individual attempts to operate a vehicle while under the debilitating influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or over-the-counter medication. Over one million people every year are arrested for their first DUI offense. The maximum penalty for a first DUI conviction in California, provided it’s a misdemeanor, is a $1,000 fine as well as over $2,600 in penalty assessments. This may also result in up to six months’ imprisonment in county jail as well as a license suspension.
Robbery
Many homeowners and renters alike find themselves struggling with the aftermath of a robbery year after year. Although many insurance companies offer fallback protection plans against the loss of property or damages, millions of Americans attempt to seek preventative methods against this epidemic. First-degree robbery carries a state prison sentence of anywhere from three to nine years in the state of California, while second-degree robbery is punishable by two to five years.
Drug Use
Occasionally crossing over with drunk driving, drug use sees many people arrested and put under probation throughout the country. The year 2013 saw an estimated one million and a half arrests for drug law violations in California alone — compare this to nearly 12 million arrests nationwide for all similar offenses. The end of year 2012 had nearly five million adults under community supervision, also known as probation, and over 68% of probationers completed their term of supervision during early 2012. This is a significant increase over past years.
Restraining Orders
A frequent issue presented to a family law attorney or Lemoore lawyer is that of restraining orders. Connected to domestic abuse or breach of conduct, restraining orders are legal protection against potential violence or exploitation. Elder abuse restraining orders are issued, specifically, to protect an abused or threatened person over the age of 65 in the state of California. Similar reasons for filing a restraining order can include stalking, attempting to file a divorce or applying for child custody after an altercation. If any of the above situations seem to apply to you, the most important element of navigating the legal system is having a lawyer by your side.
Choosing A Lawyer
The field of family law and criminal law is a vast and complex one. Seeking out the aid of a Lemoore lawyer or criminal defense lawyer will assist you with gathering resources, questioning witnesses and filing the necessary paperwork. A survey of 188 judges, prosecuting attorneys and public defenders alike revealed that as many as 10,000 people can be wrongfully convicted of serious crimes every year. The main cause in more than half of these conviction cases was eyewitness misidentification. Whether it’s contacting a Lemoore lawyer or a Hanford lawyer, you can be rest assured you have taken the essential first step.