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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Tampa
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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Tampa
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Domestic violence is defined as incidents between family, household members, or between parties involved in a romantic or intimate relationship. This crime can include arguments, stalking, physical touching, psychological abuse, harsh words, or threats of violence. At the law firm of Fernandez and Hernandez, LLC, we represent individuals charged with a crime including domestic throughout the State of Florida.
Our firm handles criminal defense throughout the state of Florida, including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, Hernando County, Manatee County, Sarasota County, and Citrus County.
We are known to “go to the mats” for our clients. That carries extraordinary weight and respect with prosecutors and other lawyers.
Both Daniel J. Fernandez and Martin J. Hernandez have more than 500 trials between them.
We are consistently rated among the top criminal defense lawyers by our peers, major independent legal authorities, and others in the community.
We will provide you with a free consultation where you will speak directly with one of our attorneys. Call us at 813-229-5353.
Our practice consists solely of trial attorneys and we dedicate ourselves to securing the best result for each and every client who enlists our services.
What you need to know if you have been the victim of domestic violence or if you have been served with a petition for a temporary injunction relating to domestic violence is very similar. Both the accuser and the accused should know their rights and take the entire process seriously as there are many repercussions if not done correctly
Domestic violence is violence or other abuse by one person against another in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Domestic violence can also involve violence against children, parents, or the elderly. It takes a number of forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, and sexual abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and violent physical abuse such as choking, beating, disfigurement or death.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, contact a lawyer to discuss the possibility of filing a petition for a temporary injunction for domestic violence. If you have been served with a petition for a temporary injunction against domestic violence, contact a lawyer to discuss your options and any possible defenses to the petition.
Yes and this is highly recommended. However, the court will not order one and you are not entitled to one for free. You must hire your own and the other party must hire their own. It is advisable not to go into an injunction hearing alone as you may not know the rules of evidence, laws, or what you are entitled to ask (or even know how to ask). Don’t do it alone. Too much is on the line.
Injunctions and restraining orders are the same things in Florida. They are essentially restraining orders (a court order not to do something) – and they have serious consequences for both parties if they are granted or denied. While they are not considered criminal, they very much have the same consequences as criminal cases.
Injunctions (especially domestic violence injunctions) are designed to prevent someone from doing something or coming into contact with another person. There does exist the possibility of this process being abused and it is highly advised that you speak with an attorney if you are ever involved in an injunction. Here is basically how it works and these are the parties of an injunction:
The petitioner files an injunction with the court against the respondent.
Petitioner = the person seeking protection from the court.
Respondent = the person who allegedly committed (or threatened to commit) violence.
In Florida, there are six different types of injunctions:
You (as the petitioner) may file a petition at one of these locations:
The necessary forms will be provided to you at the courthouse or are available to download online on the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court website. Bring your state issued photo identification along with the name, date of birth, description and location of the person you are filing against (the respondent).
The George Edgecomb Courthouse hours are from 8 AM until 5 PM, Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the hours are from 7 AM until 10 AM.
The Plant City Courthouse hours are from 8 AM until 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
Contact the Spring at (813) 247-7233 if the Clerk’s Office is closed to arrange to file a petition.
Hiring a domestic violence or injunction/restraining order lawyer can also help in the process.
Being served a Temporary Restraining Order or Temporary Injunction is serious and should not be taken lightly. If you have been served a Temporary REstraining Order or Temporary Injunction, you are not allowed back into the residence, you must surrender your firearms, and you cannot have any contact with the Petitioner (person putting the injunction on you). No phone calls, no text, no email, no social media. No indirect contact either. Ok, that doesn’t sound bad to you. But here is the problem: you go to jail and will be held without bond if you make any direct or indirect contact with the Petitioner even if the Petitioner makes contact with you and you continue the contact. No contact means no contact.
If the Petitioner of an injunction texts you and you respond. You go to jail. You are sitting at a bar or restaurant and the Petitioner walks and you stay, you go to jail. If you send her an email, you go to jail. And if you go to jail, you will be held with no bond.
Don’t respond to the person who put the injunction on you if they contact you and hire a domestic violence lawyer to defend you. A judge just told you not to contact the person who put the injunction on you. You will go to jail. They may be baiting you. They may feel remorse because it is not true. They may want to rectify. They may have a change of heart or work things out. But if you respond, you will go to jail and you will sit in jail with no bond. If the person who put the injunction on you (the Petitioner) wants contact, they will need to go to court and lift the injunction. Usually there are only two exceptions: counseling and about seeing the children. But the court needs to make those exceptions, not the person who put the injunction (the Petitioner). The best way to defend the injunction is for you get a lawyer to defend you.
Yes. Florida law specifically allows for that. The party (or parties) must petition the court. The parties cannot come to an agreement on their own and not get court approval. Warning: an injunction WILL NOT be considered amended or dismissed until the judge signs an order indicated such.
Yes, you can (and likely will) get arrested for violating a restraining order or injunction. If you are arrested, you will likely sit in jail without a bond for 72 hours or until your lawyer can get you in front of a judge.
According to the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, ‘Domestic Violence’ is a pattern of controlling behaviors – violence or threats of violence – that one person uses to establish power over an intimate partner in order to control that partner’s actions and activities. Domestic violence is not a disagreement, a marital spat, or an anger management problem. Domestic violence is abusive, disrespectful, and hurtful behaviors that one intimate partner chooses to use against the other partner.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic abuse is whenever your partner:
Florida Statute 741.28 defines Domestic violence as:
“Domestic violence” means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.
“Family or household member” means spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. With the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit.
If you or someone you know have been involved in a domestic violence situation, you are probably overwhelmed and confused as to what to do next. It is critical that you get help from an experienced domestic violence attorney and seek refuge at likes place like The Spring if it gets too bad. If you need help getting to safety because of domestic violence, we highly recommend calling The Spring at 813-247-7233.
Domestic violence cases are complex and require the help of an experienced lawyer in domestic violence cases. An experienced domestic violence attorney will be able to help you navigate through the system and get you the best possible outcome.
If you or someone you know have a domestic violence problem in the Tampa Bay area and need help, Fernandez & Hernandez will provide a free consultation and help guide you through the process. Being served a restraining order (temporary injunction) is serious and you should not handle this by yourself. If you or a loved one need help getting the outcome you deserve, call Fernandez & Hernandez.
Domestic violence attorney Daniel J. Fernandez and Martin Hernandez have the experience with domestic violence hearings to get you a judicious outcome and will work vigorously to get your situation resolved. Domestic violence battery lawyers Daniel J. Fernandez and Martin Hernandez can help guide you through the process.
If you need legal assistance with a domestic violence situation call Fernandez & Hernandez at 813-229-5353.
A domestic violence arrest can occur after only one person has made an accusation without any other witnesses or proof. It only takes one incident or one accusation and an injunction can be put in place for as little as three months to the rest of the person’s life.
Oftentimes such reports are made when an accuser is jealous or upset about support, alimony, or child custody on either side.
If you are convicted of domestic violence in Florida, the results can be severe personal and financial hardships. Frequently when a person appears for a bond hearing on such a charge, the judge will order that the defendant has no contact with the alleged victim, meaning that he or she will have to move out of the household until the case is concluded.
You will also lose your right to possess a firearm under federal law. Additionally, police may file domestic violence charges without the alleged victim seeking charges. The victim will also not have the option to drop the charges.
Due to the fact that prosecutors rely on the police report and the account of the alleged victim when making their filing decision, it is very important to present conflicting evidence and the accuser’s motive to the prosecutor as soon as possible.
If you have been charged with this crime, it is very important to contact an experienced lawyer who is committed to representing your best interests. Our firm represents both the accuser and the accused. Both offense and defense. We represent those in same-sex relationships or marriages as well as boyfriend-girlfriend and husband-wife.
At Fernandez & Hernandez, LLC, our criminal defense attorneys protect the rights of clients from the moment the criminal accusation is made to the final resolution of the case.
We represent clients throughout Tampa, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Polk County, Manatee, Sarasota Count, Pasco County, Hernando County, and throughout the State of Florida.
With decades of combined experience, including time spent as former prosecutors, you can rest assured that your case is being represented by an attorney who understands the tactics used by the prosecution.
The Fernandez & Hernandez law office is designed to swiftly resolve any difficulties that you may face. Our attorneys continue to strive upon improving and bettering the situations of our clients. Contact Daniel J. Fernandez or Martin Hernandez today so we can fight for you and protect your rights.Call (813) 229-5353.
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Address:
3002 W Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, Florida 33609
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Phone number:
(813) 229-5353
© Fernandez & Hernandez LLC – 2019. All rights reserved. The material provided in this web site is intended to be used as general information and not as legal advice. You should schedule an appointment with an attorney for professional advice regarding your particular case. You should avoid sending any sensitive, confidential or damaging information via e-mail since mail on the Internet is not secure. We strongly recommend that you contact either Martin J. Hernandez or Daniel J. Fernandez as soon as possible if you are seeking legal representation. Our early intervention is crucial. We have emergency assistance available 7 days a week, every day of the year.
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