Domestic violence covers a wide range of criminal activity involving a household or family member. It also includes violence against current or previous spouses, intimate partners, and people with whom you share a child. Examples of crimes that could result in domestic violence charges include, but are not limited to, assault, harassment, stalking, sex offenses, […]

Elder abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults are serious problems in the United States. However, false allegations of financial abuse are also common. Family dynamics are complicated, and family members may accuse each other because of hurt feelings, greed, or misunderstandings. A mandatory reporter may misunderstand a situation and report someone for financial abuse. Our […]

Expert witnesses are used in all types of civil and criminal cases. From psychologists to forensic experts, the courtroom can turn into a stage for professionals during a domestic violence case. Get acquainted with the potential expert witnesses you might encounter and the roles they play in shaping the case’s outcome in this introduction to […]

Some people take advantage of the domestic violence laws in Washington state to try to gain an unfair advantage in a divorce or paternity case. These people provoke their significant other, often with physical violence or threats of physical violence, and then call the police when the object of this strategy defends themselves. If you […]

Domestic violence cases are fraught for many reasons. In addition to the emotional implications for everyone involved, there are legal issues that can make such cases challenging for the accused, the alleged victim, and even police and prosecutors. One such aspect of domestic violence cases is identifying the “primary aggressor:” the person alleged to pose the […]

In recent years, there has been a significant focus on enhancing legal protections for victims of domestic violence in Washington. This commitment to change is crystallized in the recent passing of House Bill 1715, an important piece of legislation aimed at strengthening the rights and protections afforded to these victims. The implications of this new […]

If you are a victim of a crime, you might wonder what will happen if you decide that you do not want the criminal case to go forward. Do you have the power to make the charges go away? Can a prosecutor drop charges at the victim’s request? Whether you are the victim or the […]

No, you do not have to be spouses to fall under Washington State’s domestic violence laws. The offense can be “domestic violence” if you are a current or former intimate partner or a family or household member of the accuser or alleged perpetrator. A Seattle domestic violence defense attorney can help if someone accuses you […]