Albany Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic violence is considered a big problem throughout most of the country and is a commonly charged offense, but it is important to keep in mind that many people charged with domestic violence are later let go as criminal charges do not stick.

Law enforcement officers often speedily arrest an alleged perpetrator of domestic violence on the word of an angry family member without an in-depth look at the surrounding circumstances. If you have been arrested on charges of domestic violence, do not wait around for charges to become permanent; contact an experienced Albany domestic violence lawyer today to assist you in handling your case.

Domestic Violence in New York

New York law classifies domestic violence typically as assault, which can be either a misdemeanor or felony offense. Domestic violence charges often appear during emotional arguments and are unfortunately often brought as a retaliation for a heated divorce or breakup. It is important that you do not let such a dispute affect your ability to maintain a job or gain possession of your children.

New York State recognized that domestic violence proceedings often involve the combination of proceedings taking place in criminal court, family court, and/or Supreme Court. Therefore, New York created specialized criminal courts across the state (including Albany NY) known as Domestic Violence Court and multi-jurisdictional courtrooms known as Integrated Domestic Violence Court, in which criminal law and family law occur in one place. These courts allow expedited cases involving domestic violence, as compared to the larger criminal court system which could take months or years to resolve. The courts additionally include judges who are well versed in domestic violence law in New York and are able to accurately make informed decisions about the case in hand.

Judges in Domestic Violence Courts preside over the case from arraignment until disposition and therefore have a thorough understanding of the facts of the case. Integrated Domestic Violence Courts are slightly different from other Domestic Violence Courts in that one judge handles criminal domestic violence cases and related family issues. To be eligible to bring a case before the Integrated Domestic Violence Courts, a family must have a criminal domestic violence case as well as a family court case, a matrimonial case, or both in which the defendant and complaining witness in the criminal case is also a party in the family court case.

Hug Law, PLLC | Albany Domestic Violence Attorney

If you have been charged and live in the Capital Region, do not hesitate to contact Matthew Hug, an experienced domestic violence attorney in Albany NY. Matthew has nearly ten years of experience defending clients in Troy, Schenectady and the Capital District from a number of criminal accusations, including assault and domestic violence. While the Integrated Domestic Violence Courts seem to work toward the alleged victim’s favor, Matthew understands how to successfully argue a domestic violence case involving family law issues as well in order to protect your rights to your children. These cases are often brought for such petty reasons that you should not allow these accusations to affect your ability to see your children and keep your job. Contact our law offices today for your initial free consultation.