Dallas Domestic Violence Attorneys

Protecting Against Family Violence in TX

A domestic violence charge could have serious ramifications for your life, seriously damaging your professional and personal well-being. Our Dallas domestic violence lawyers will help you navigate your case and represent you in court.

Domestic Violence Charges in TX

If an individual commits an act of violence against:

• A current or former spouse or their child;
• A parent with whom they have a child;  
• Their foster child or parent;
• A member of their family by blood, marriage or adoption;
• Someone they live with; or
• Someone they have an ongoing or past romantic or dating relationship with;

They can be charged with domestic violence. Depending on the circumstances of the case they may be charged with:

• Domestic Assault: the lowest tier of a domestic violence charge, in which the person caused physical harm to a member of the household. This can also be in the form of verbal threats. All acts committed must have been done so with the knowing intention of causing damage.
• Aggravated Domestic Assault: aggravated essentially means that the acts of domestic violence are more severe in nature. Examples of this would be if the victim was attacked by a deadly weapon or received serious injuries to the body.
• Continuous Violence Against the Family: if two separate domestic violence charges were reported in a 12-month period, this would qualify as "continuous". The two charges do not necessarily have to result in arrest; rather they just need to be filed and documented.

The penalties for domestic violence depend on the severity of the charges. Class A misdemeanor charges, which may include threatening a family member, child, or partner with violence, can carry a penalty of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000. However, 1st degree felony charges, which may include causing serious bodily injury to a family member, partner, or child can result in penalties of 5 to 99 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

Additionally, individuals who find themselves accused of domestic violence may also have a temporary protective order levied against them that prevents them from being within a certain distance of their accuser or sharing a living space with them. Judges can issue a temporary protective order ex parte (meaning the accused party doesn't have to be present) if they believe there's a good reason to do so.

If convicted of domestic violence, a perpetrator may also have a more permanent protective order issued against them to protect the domestic violence survivor/victim.

At DebnamRust, P.C., we know that facing a domestic violence charge can be terrifying. We'll advocate for your rights, ensuring you receive the legal representation you deserve in and out of court.

Schedule a consultation with our team! Contact us online or via phone at (214) 758-8681 today.