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? 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.

Two-wheeled vehicle accidents in Georgia, most of which involve motorcycles, aren't the same as ordinary car accidents when it comes to making claims. The personal injury aspects of these cases are usually devastating to the rider, and a motorcycle accident lawyer is an important ally for anyone injured in such an accident. How Two-Wheeled Accidents Differ From Regular Car Accident Personal Injury Claims Extreme Injuries A passenger car surrounds its occupants with a steel frame that has crumple zones, and it comes with seat belts and airbags that absorb and redirect the force of a crash. A motorcycle, trike, or similar two-wheeled vehicle has none of those barriers, so even a collision that would produce only bruising or whiplash inside a car routinely produces much more serious injuries in riders. The resulting medical bills, the long rehabilitation period (during which it's often impossible to work), and the lost earning capacity from long-term physical disability are typically larger, and the damages claimed for pain, suffering, and future care are correspondingly higher than with regular car accidents. Differences in Insurance Georgia treats motorcycles as motor vehicles for purposes of liability insurance, and the statutory minimums are identical to those required for cars. Motorcycle policies, however, frequently don't include medical payments or personal injury protection endorsements that some automobile policies carry, so it's common for an injured rider to be more dependent on their own health insurance or on the at-fault driver's liability insurance. Those liability limits are often exhausted quickly because the injuries and bills are so much more costly. Differences in Fault Technically speaking, fault is assigned in these accidents under the same modified comparative-negligence statute that governs every motor-vehicle collision in the state. If you're 50% or more at fault, you can't claim anything. If you're less than 50% at fault, your final award is reduced by the same percentage as your degree of fault. In practice, however, this rule often ends up being more harshly applied to two-wheeled vehicle riders because insurance adjusters and jurors often have an assumption that motorcyclists are reckless and must have been speeding, weaving, or otherwise riding dangerously. Overcoming this requires more extensive evidence and the help of an experienced lawyer. Insurer Resistance Because claims are often so high in these accidents and because of the bias against motorcyclists, it's common for insurers to fight back hard in these cases. The insurance company will be very aware of the time limits involved and will likely seek to push them to the limit in the hopes that you will miss the filing deadline. You have two years after an accident to bring a lawsuit, and if you miss this window, you can't then bring a lawsuit, no matter how strong the evidence or serious your injuries. Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer If you've been injured in an accident, don't try to take on the insurance company on your own. Call Davis, Chapman, & Wilder in Augusta, GA at 706-200-1578 today to request a consultation.

Here in Georgia, couples who want to divorce can get a mediation lawyer and go through a more amicable process than taking things all the way to trial in the Augusta, GA courts. You're allowed under the law to resolve every disputed issue in a divorce without a trial, and most cases do actually end that way. When a Trial Is Required A trial is required only if there are issues that remain contested when the case is called before the court. The judge may refer all contested divorce petitions for divorce or permanent alimony to an appropriate alternative dispute resolution (ADR) method before holding the trial if the trial is held in a county where there's a court-annexed ADR program already in place. In counties where there aren't, the judge may still refer a disputed case if a method is reasonably available and wouldn't add a lot of cost. When There's Perfect Agreement For some couples, the right move forward is an uncontested filing. This is where the spouses already agree on how to divide their property and debts, what alimony there will be, custody and parenting time issues, and all issues of child support. The couple will still need to submit a written settlement agreement for the court to review and incorporate into the decree, and the court will still need to find that the agreement is fair, particularly in the issues of property division, alimony, and child support. Even if you and your spouse believe you agree completely, it's important to talk with a lawyer who can help you work through your agreement and ensure the court will find it appropriate. When There's Room for Compromise Even if you and your spouse don't yet perfectly agree, if your attitude is positive towards compromise and cooperation, you can still get things done through negotiations and mediation. In fact, the courts will encourage you to keep trying this, and you can convert a contested case into an uncontested one at any point before trial. Mediation In mediation, a neutral facilitator helps the parties reach a voluntary agreement. The mediator has no power to impose terms, and the settlement itself is voluntary. If you engage in a few good-faith sessions but can't produce an agreement, the petition will go to trial. Collaborative Divorce This is a private process in which both spouses and their individual legal counsel commit to settling outside court by signing what's known as a Participation Agreement. The parties also all agree that, if the process fails, the lawyers will withdraw so new counsel can litigate the case in court. This process typically takes three to six months, and it can't be stopped except by actually breaking the agreement entirely. It's important to understand that the Settlement Agreement as a binding contract once it is incorporated into the divorce decree. Contact a Mediation Lawyer in Augusta, GA If you're interested in a divorce that is less contentious, cheaper, and faster, mediation or another ADR method could be the answer. To find out if this is a good fit for your case, talk to Davis, Chapman, & Wilder today to request a consultation.