If you have been accused of domestic violence, you need immediate legal representation from a Florida criminal defense lawyer. Never forget that you too have legal rights, and the Alers Law Firm can fight to protect them.
Being accused or charged with domestic violence can have significant consequences, both in terms of your freedom and reputation. You could find yourself subject to harsh restrictions that could take away your ability to live your own life. Always take charges or allegations of domestic violence extremely seriously.
Call the Alers Law Firm to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case. This step is one that you should take before there is rush to judgment, or you make a mistake that could complicate your own legal situation.
Florida and Federal Laws Addressing Domestic Violence
Under Florida law, domestic violence is defined as:
“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.”
The primary laws that often come into play in a domestic violence case include:
- Stalking
- Cyberstalking
- Assault
- Battery
- Threats
- Forcible and attempted rape
- Child abuse
The Violence Against Women Act is a federal law that criminalizes certain types of conduct, including:
- Crossing a state line with the intent to injure, harm or harass a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner
- Stalking through electronic means across state lines
- Traveling across state lines to defy a court order
The Potential Ramifications of a Domestic Violence Conviction
Domestic violence convictions will have a number of potential negative impacts on your life that can include:
- The potential for jail time (the penalties would depend on the crime of which you are convicted)
- Potential deportation from the United States if you are not a citizen
- A permanent criminal record, which can affect your employment prospects or your ability to find a place to live
- The loss of your right to own a firearm
- The loss of your ability to vote (if you are convicted of a felony and still have outstanding debts to the court)
- Weakening your custody case and potentially even keeping you from seeing your children
Injunctions for Domestic Violence Allegations
If you are accused of domestic violence, you may find yourself subject to one of a number of injunctions. If the court grants the request for an injunction, it may impose a number of conditions that it views as necessary to protect the accuser. These conditions would function as a restraining order that may keep you from being near the accuser or even communicating with them. Domestic violence injunctions can impact your life in many ways, including:
- Negatively impacting your reputation because injunctions are a matter of public record
- Harming your ability to do your job if you need to be around your accuser in a work setting
- The loss of your freedom to go where you want
- Making it difficult for pickups and dropoffs when there are minor children involved
What to Do if You Are Accused of Domestic Violence
If you are facing domestic violence accusations, it is essential that you contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Judges often try to err on the side of protecting the accuser, and you may end up paying the price. You may be subject to a rush to judgment based on the nature of the allegations made against you. Not every domestic violence allegation is automatically true, and the accuser must still prove their case when they are seeking an injunction. The prosecutor must also demonstrate each and every single element of the criminal case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. You still have legal rights, even if you are the subject of graphic allegations.
If you have been accused of domestic violence, you should consider the following to protect yourself:
- Do not panic and do anything rash
- Get legal help immediately from an experienced criminal defense attorney
- Try not to privately contact your accuser to discuss the allegations (your texts or the record of contact may be used against you)
- Save any documentation or line up witnesses who can tell your side of the story
- Do not ignore the charges against you and fight back legally if necessary
Call a Florida Criminal Defense Law Firm Today
Seek help from a criminal defense attorney at the first possible moment if you have been accused of domestic violence. The consequences of delaying this call can be extreme. You can schedule a free initial consultation with a criminal defense lawyer by visiting our website or by calling us today at 407-920-4888.

Attorney Chavelys Y. Alers was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She specifically grew up in the towns of Vega Baja and Dorado. Attorney Alers is bilingual, as she is fluent in both English and Spanish. Two decades ago, Attorney Alers migrated from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, Central Florida. Learn more here.