How Can Parents Create Effective Co-Parenting Plans?

A domestic violence charge is always serious, even if it's your first time. Talk to an Augusta, GA criminal defense lawyer as soon as you can, and take the following steps to protect yourself as you seek the best outcome. How Should I Handle a First-Time Domestic Violence Charge in Augusta, GA? more 1. Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer Immediately The very first call you make should be to a lawyer, and until your lawyer is by your side, say nothing. Be polite with the police, but don't agree to answer any questions until you've talked to your lawyer. A lawyer will protect you from making any mistakes, investigate what really happened, and then do everything possible to have the charges dismissed and, if that's not possible, lowered. 2. Stay Away From the Victim It doesn't matter if the person making the accusations against you is making the entire thing up: do not contact them. Many people make the mistake of thinking that if they just could talk it out, everything would be better. But until you actually work things out legally, this can only hurt you. 3. Save Everything Keep a careful record of every communication that you have with anyone related to the case. If there were any emails, texts, or phone calls leading up to the incident you're being charged over, keep all of these, as they may show important context that can be used to defend you. As mentioned above, you should not contact the victim, but if the victim contacts you, simply save their communication and show it to your lawyer. 4. Do Not Talk on Social Media Do not discuss your case on social media under any circumstances. Anything you say there can be used against you, and you should always assume that what you say on social media is not private and is likely to get back to the prosecutor's office. 5. Follow All Court Orders If the court has given any restraining orders, you must follow these even if you think they're ridiculous and even if you're completely innocent. It will only harm your case if you do not. Give your attorney the chance to defend you through the proper court procedures. Defenses Your Attorney May Explore With You The precise defense that you bring is always going to depend on the unique circumstances of your case, of course. But there are some common defenses in these cases. Sometimes former romantic partners bring these sorts of accusations to get revenge or win leverage in a custody battle, and it's possible to show that you're being falsely accused. In other cases, your best defense may be a lack of evidence or unreliable testimony. In some cases, it would be appropriate to argue self-defense or the need to defend someone else. And occasionally, the best defense is not related to the incident itself but to the police response, and if you can show that your constitutional rights were violated at that point, the charges may be dropped. If you're being charged, contact us right now at Davis, Chapman, & Wilder in Augusta, GA to get started on a strong defense.

Child support orders in Augusta, GA are not permanent. They can be adjusted whenever you can show that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred since the order was entered or last modified. However, Georgia family law controls this process and sets the terms for how and when you can make these kinds of changes. more A "Substantial" Change The law requires that something substantial have taken place to make a change to your orders. Usually, this will be something that has significant and continuing effects upon either parent's ability to pay or the child's financial needs. The courts and the Division of Child Support Services will want to see evidence of the real impact this change has had, and you must prove the change with actual records, not just descriptions. Common Examples: Involuntary loss of income of 25% or more Loss of job when an employer shuts down operations or a serious long-term illness or accident stops someone from working for over a year Starting to receive TANF benefits or receiving an unexpected windfall, like an inheritance Development of a serious medical condition by either parent or the child New unexpected expenses for schooling or other child needs Change in living arrangements What's Not a Substantial Change If you or the other parent have voluntarily quit a steady job for a lower-paying one or switched to part-time work when full-time opportunities exist, this generally won't count, even if your income has gone down significantly. New expenses like having another child, buying a home, or taking on debt usually won't count, either, since these are all free choices that should have been made by accommodating the order that was already in place. General increases in living costs may or may not allow you to make an adjustment: it depends on the situation. If the cost of living generally has gone up substantially, but your income has not, the court may agree to hear the case for making a change. But if your cost of living has gone up because you've made choices you didn't have to, they likely won't. How Custody Affects Things A meaningful increase or decrease in actual parenting time, compared to the court order, may support a petition to do a recalculation of child support. These issues sometimes run alongside a support modification, though separate filings may still be required, depending on the details. Working With a Family Law Attorney An attorney can help you review your request and give you sound advice about whether it's likely to meet the threshold and be accepted. Then, your attorney will prepare the paperwork and argue the case. Your attorney represents you and your interests at the hearing, where the judge decides first whether the change meets the legal threshold and then applies the guidelines to set any revised amount. For help with your custody or support issue, contact Davis, Chapman, & Wilder in Augusta, GA today. As a leading local law firm, we've been voted 10 Best Law Firms for Customer Satisfaction by the Institute of Family Law Attorneys, and we have more than 30 years of experience helping the families of Georgia during the toughest times of life.

In the Augusta-Richmond County metropolitan area, teens are "adjudicated delinquent" rather than convicted of crimes. Although they're not convicted of a crime, being adjudicated delinquent can still cause issues down the road for a young person's educational prospects, ability to rent housing, job prospects, and more. Having a juvenile record sealed can protect a teen, but it's not an automatic process. more Are Juvenile Records Sealed? Juvenile records are eligible to be sealed, and it's more likely that a juvenile can have their records sealed than an adult. But there are rules and procedures that have to be followed to get it done. The Rules of Sealing Records A juvenile's record can be sealed automatically only if the court dismisses the petition against them or if the case is handled within an adjustment rather than by finding the juvenile adjudicated delinquent. If the young person is adjudicated delinquent, then they will have to file an application to have the record sealed, and certain conditions have to be met. To be eligible, the young person must be two years past their final discharge of supervision. Since the discharge, they must not have been: Convicted of a felony Adjudicated delinquent again Been convicted of a misdemeanor involving "moral turpitude." Moral turpitude is a somewhat subjective concept, but it basically means an act that is contrary to community standards of honesty and good morals. In addition to the above, there cannot be a pending action against the young person seeking to have their records sealed. The court must also determine to its satisfaction that the young person has been rehabilitated, and ultimately this is up to the discretion of the judge. How to Request Records Be Sealed 1. Talk With a Lawyer and Prepare a Petition It's always best to have a lawyer's help in preparing a petition. A lawyer will understand all the laws and know what the courts are looking for to determine if a young person can be considered rehabilitated. In addition, a lawyer will make sure that all paperwork is properly filed and accurate and represent the family in court. 2. Attend a Hearing Once the court receives the petition, it will set a hearing date and give notice to the prosecuting attorney, any law enforcement agencies that were involved with the young person's records, the authority that granted them discharge, and the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Any or all of these entities may be present for the hearing. At the hearing, the judge is likely to ask questions of the young person and the family, listen to any objections by the prosecutor, and review all the evidence about the young person's conduct since discharge. Contact an Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Area Juvenile Law Attorney Right Away The best way to present a strong case for why your teen's record should be sealed is with the help of an experienced attorney. Talk with us today at Davis, Chapman, & Wilder for help anywhere in the Augusta-Richmond County metropolitan area.