45+ Years

Of Combined Experience

Seattle Domestic Violence Lawyers

Once a phone call 911 is placed and a domestic violence allegation is made in Washington State, someone is going to jail. The police will arrive and make a snap judgement as to who the “primary aggressor” is and then take you away. You’ll be in jail at least overnight before you can see a judge. Then, once you are out of custody, in almost every case, a no contact order gets put in place. If you live with the alleged victim, this can turn everything upside down for you.

We understand how stressful a domestic violence charge can be. We’re here to help. We fight domestic violence cases on a daily basis and have proven strategies to successfully defend against them and get you the best possible resolution.

Below, you’ll find answers to many common questions related to domestic violence allegations, but the best way to make sure your individual questions are answered is to simply give us a call for a free, no strings attached consultation.

Common Domestic Violence Questions

What Qualifies as Domestic Violence?

The relationship between the parties involved. If the person accusing you is a family member, or you are in a dating relationship, or you live together, then there’s a good chance the offense will be labeled as “domestic violence.”

What are some common offenses that get charged as domestic violence?
  • Assault
  • Harassment
  • Telephone Harassment
  • Malicious Mischief
  • Stalking
  • Interfering with Reporting Domestic Violence
  • Violation of No Contact Order
What are some of the potential results I can expect?

Because every case has its own unique set of facts and circumstances, it’s not possible for us to tell you what result you will get on your particular case until we have had a chance to fully litigate it. That said, here are some potential results; all of which we have achieved for our clients:

  • Dismissal of charges in the pre-trial stages
  • Stipulated Order of Continuance (leads to dismissal of charges)
  • Deferred Prosecution
  • Reduction of charges
  • Reduction of penalties
  • Not guilty verdict after trial

We explain these potential outcomes in a little more detail further down the page, but it’s best to simply call us for a full explanation of what these outcomes mean and how we can achieve them.

Besides jail, what other potential consequences am I looking at?

Because there is such a wide variety of potential outcomes, we don’t want you to get ahead of yourself with worrying about every single potential consequence, but because we know this is often a burning question, here are a few:

  • Protection order
  • Probation/Community Custody
  • Domestic Violence classes
  • Fines
  • Work Release
  • Electronic Home Monitoring
  • Loss of firearm rights
What happens if I’m convicted?

The consequences of a conviction vary greatly depending on the charge and other circumstances. We list some potential consequences here, but in order to get the more specific answers about your particular case, simply pick up the phone and give us a call.

  • Jail/Prison Sentence
  • Registration as a sex offender
  • Felony Conviction, leading to loss of rights such a voting and possession of firearms
  • Formal probation/Community Custody
  • Counseling/therapy
  • Alternative sentencing such as work release, electronic home monitoring, and/or community service
  • Fines
  • Loss of job
I’m currently under investigation for a domestic violence crime, what should I do?

The answer to this varies depending on your particular situation, but there are three universal pieces of advice:

  1. Do NOT talk to the police
  2. Do NOT talk to anyone else about the situation either as you run the risk of creating witnesses for the government
  3. Consult with an Attorney

From there, we need to hear more about your individual situation to advise your further.  In the meantime, please view our video below on the subject and visit our Under Investigation page.

See What Our Clients Are Saying

Protect yourself with a domestic violence criminal defense lawyer

Send us a message using our contact form or reach out to us by phone, text, or email.

  • We only handle cases in Washington State. What City/County is your case located in?