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Livonia Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer

When you have been arrested for domestic violence in Livonia, Michigan, you need specialized and expert legal help if you hope to beat the charges. The right domestic violence defense lawyer can mean the difference between dismissed charges or a conviction and a misdemeanor or a felony.

Because this can be a stressful, scary, and confusing time, Blank Law, PC is here to answer your questions and help you find your best path forward. As the top domestic violence criminal defense lawyers in Livonia, Michigan, we will fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future.

Let us know about your situation, and we’ll let you know how we can help. The INITIAL CONSULTATION IS FREE.

What is Domestic Violence?

Under Michigan law, domestic violence is defined as any criminal assault where the perpetrator and the victim have or had a personal relationship:

Spouse/Intimate Partner/Dating relationship
Have a child/children together
Lived in the same household
Family member

Importantly, Michigan domestic violence laws do not apply to acquaintances or casual relationships from other business or social settings. A “dating relationship” is specifically defined as “an expectation of affectional involvement.”

This is the kind of legal distinction that a top Livonia domestic violence criminal defense attorney can use to help you fight improper charges.

Blank Law can make the Michigan domestic violence statutes work for you and your defense. Contact us TODAY for a FREE CASE EVALUATION.

What are Some Examples of Domestic Violence?

The Domestic Violence and Treatment Act makes it a crime to cause or attempt to cause mental or physical harm to anyone from a defined personal relationship. This includes:

Physical, mental, or emotional abuse
Involuntary sexual activity by force, the threat of force, or duress
Fear of physical or mental harm
Stalking
Destruction of property
Any pattern of behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to feel threatened, harassed, intimidated, molested, frightened, or terrorized

Note that domestic violence does NOT just involve physical violence. You can be charged with a crime even if you have never touched the other person.

This gives the Wayne County District Attorney complete discretion as to whether or not to file charges. Domestic violence is not considered a typical “private” crime, where an individual decides if they want to press criminal charges against someone else. The DA can prosecute a Livonia domestic assault accusation, even if the alleged victim does not cooperate.

Because intimate partner violence is taken so seriously and prosecuted so aggressively, you need a Livonia domestic law firm who will work even harder to clear your name.

To find out more about what Blank Law can do for you, call TODAY for a FREE FIRST CONSULTATION.

What are the Penalties for Domestic Violence?

Because so many different actions can be prosecuted as domestic violence crimes in Livonia, the potential penalties, if you are convicted, can vary tremendously. You could be facing a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on specific circumstances. Other factors that affect the severity of the charges include any injuries suffered by the victim, use of a weapon, and if you have a history of prior convictions.

Domestic assault is a misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of 93 days in jail and/or a fine of $500.

However, if you have previous domestic violence convictions, the maximum penalties worsen considerably:

One prior – Misdemeanor, 1 year in prison, and/or a $1000 fine
Two+ priors – Felony, 5 years in prison, and/or a $5000 fine

Previous convictions trigger enhanced penalties even if they do not involve the same victim.

If the victim is injured and requires medical attention, it is a misdemeanor domestic violence offense, with maximum penalties of 1 year in prison, a fine of $1000, or both.

In the case of injury, any prior conviction results in a felony domestic violence charge, punishable by up to 5 years in prison, up to $5000 fine, or both.

Finally, under certain circumstances, the penalties can be far more severe – use of a weapon, assault by strangulation or suffocation, or if there was demonstrable intent to maim or otherwise inflict great bodily harm. These are felonies carrying a 10-year prison sentence.

Other possible consequences include:

Protective orders
Mandatory psychological testing and counseling
Anger management
Substance abuse treatment
Parenting classes
Supervised child visitation
Loss of parental rights
Unfavorable divorce ruling
Eviction from the shared home
Impact on immigration status
Sex offender registration
A criminal record that will follow you everywhere

Do I Really Need a Livonia Domestic Criminal Defense Lawyer?

With everything on the line, you need the experience and skill of the domestic violence criminal defense specialists at Blank Law, PC.

Other law firms in Livonia cannot match the specialized legal knowledge and extensive experience of the domestic violence criminal defense lawyers at Blank Law, PC.

Founder Nicole Blank Becker has worked both sides of the law for more than 20 years, as private defense and as an Assistant Prosecutor for Macomb County, serving as the Chief of the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Units.

Defense attorney Christopher Coyle worked as an Assistant Prosecutor here in the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office for over 30 years, including a tenure as Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Unit.

That is 50-plus years of knowledge, and practical experience that should be working on your behalf. Reach out TODAY for a FREE CONSULTATION

Where Are Livonia Domestic Violence Cases Tried?

Misdemeanors

16th District Court

32765 Five Mile Road

Livonia, Michigan 48154

(734) 466-2500

Felonies

3rd Judicial Circuit Court

Frank Murphy Hall of Justice

1441 St. Antoine

Detroit, MI 48226

(313) 224-7018

Livonia Domestic Violence Judges

16th District District Court

There are two judges presiding over the 16th District Court in Livonia.

Honorable Sean P. Kavanagh

Honorable Kathleen J. McCann

3rd Judicial Circuit Court

There are 23 judges serving on the bench for the Criminal Division of the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit.

Honorable Donald Knapp, Jr. (Presiding)

Honorable Chandra W. Baker-Robinson

Honorable Mariam Bazzi

Honorable Gregory Dean Bill

Honorable Christopher M. Blount

Honorable Bradley Cobb

Honorable Kevin J. Cox

Honorable Kiefer Cox

Honorable Paul J. Cusick

Honorable Prentis Edwards, Jr.

Honorable Wanda A. Evans

Honorable John C. Gillis

Honorable Tracy E. Green

Honorable Bridget Mary Hathaway

Honorable Nicholas Hathaway

Honorable Anne McCarthy

Honorable Kelly A. Ramsey

Honorable Mark T. Slavens

Honorable Deborah A. Thomas

Honorable Regina D. Thomas

Honorable Margaret M. Van Houten

Honorable Shannon N. Walker

Wayne County Prosecutor

Kym L. Worthy

(313) 224-5777

Domestic Violence Unit

(313) 224-5857

Special Victim’s Unit

(313) 224-5809

16th District Court and 3rd Circuit Court Parking

There are two parking lots for the 16th District Court in Livonia – on the north and west sides of the building.

The main parking lot for the 3rd Circuit Court is to the west of the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.

Nearby Restaurants

Livonia

Most nearby restaurants open for lunch in Livonia are along Plymouth Road. Fast food options include Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut, White Castle, Five Guys, and Chick-Fil-A, but there are also several local choices.

Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine

29499 Plymouth Road

(734) 266-7001

*****

Archie’s Restaurant

30471 Plymouth Road

(734) 524-2820

*****

What The Pho

27524 Plymouth Road

(734) 261-2609

*****