Civil Protection Orders are legal tools designed to protect victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and other forms of harassment. These Orders typically include provisions that restrict the abusive party from having contact with the victim and may also grant temporary custody of children or access to shared property to a specific individual.
To initiate the CPO process, a Petition must be filed at the appropriate Domestic Relations Court. The Petition must be filed in the county where the Petitioner resides. In the Petition, the Petitioner is required to provide a detailed explanation of the facts supporting their request.
Upon filing the Petition, you may request a temporary Ex Parte Order, which is a temporary Protection Order granted until the court holds a hearing to determine whether to issue a full CPO. Ex Parte Orders are issued with only one side’s story being evaluated by a Magistrate or Judge.
Whether or not an Ex Parte Order is granted or not, the court will schedule a hearing where both parties involved can present their case. During the hearing, it is essential to present compelling evidence supporting your need for a CPO or presenting evidence against the need for a CPO if you are the respondent. Relevant evidence can include things such as police reports, medical records, messages, documents and witness testimony that support your case. The full hearing is effectively a trial and can range from 30 minutes to multiple days.
If the judge finds sufficient evidence and determines that granting a CPO is necessary, they will issue a full Order. This Order will outline the restrictions and protections put in place for your safety. These Orders can be in place for up to 5 years and can restrict things such as contact, access to property and even gun rights.
Whether you are seeking a CPO or are defending yourself against one, you don’t have to tackle this challenging process alone. Contact Ferguson Legal Group today and allow us to help protect you.
]]>Ferguson Legal Group is dedicated to assisting fathers in Greene, Clark, and Clinton Counties in establishing their parental rights. Backed by years of experience in family law, their attorneys understand the challenges fathers face in the legal system. With their expertise and guidance, Ferguson Legal Group helps fathers navigate the court process, advocating for their rights and promoting equitable parental involvement.
]]>If you are charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, you could be sent to jail for up to six months. If this is your first offense and there was minimal injury, there’s a possibility that you could go on probation instead of getting jail time. If you’re charged with felony domestic violence, time in prison could range from one to eight years in prison depending on the severity of the charges.
Misdemeanor domestic violence charges could result in up to $1,000 in fines, while felony domestic violence fines range from up to $2,500 to up to $15,000.
If you’re convicted of domestic violence, there are other consequences you have to think about. For instance, if you have children, you may not be able to see them; the court could restrict your time with them if they believe your children won’t be safe. If the person you allegedly hurt gets a restraining order against you, you may have to leave your home or stay away from places where you could run into them. Plus, your reputation could be tarnished, which can have devastating consequences.
By working with a criminal defense attorney, you could potentially avoid these situations and get your life back on track.
Have you been charged with domestic violence? Then get in touch with Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>Yes, you absolutely can contest your OVI charge in Ohio. If you simply plead guilty, you could be subject to big fines, time behind bars, and other consequences. You also won’t be able to look at the evidence against you. Once you plead guilty, that’s it – you can’t reverse the decision. It’s always worth it to fight with the help of an OVI attorney in Ohio.
You shouldn’t contest your OVI on your own because you aren’t familiar with the legal processes. Instead, call an OVI attorney to guide you. They will let you know what’s going to happen, the possible consequences you face, and how to answer questions in a court of law. They can also review your arrest and evidence and figure out if you have a way to get out of these charges. For example, perhaps the police did not legally search you when you were charged with an OVI. Only an experienced expert, like an OVI attorney, would know the ins and outs of the laws and be able to assist you at this critical time. There is just too much on the line to plead guilty or contest it yourself.
Have you been charged with an OVI? Then get in touch with Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>Don’t worry because if you hire an attorney, they can help you with these misdemeanor charges. It’s time to learn more about how they are able to assist you as well as find the right attorney for your case.
Sometimes, the police make mistakes when they arrest someone. If you were treated unfairly and the police did something illegal, your attorney could possibly help prove this and ensure you beat these charges.
A plea deal occurs when you plead guilty or no contest to your charges in order to get your charges reduced – or perhaps dropped altogether. Your attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor to get you a plea deal and hopefully avoid jail time.
The prosecutor is going to attempt to prove that you are guilty. If you are ignorant about the law, you don’t have any defense. Many people don’t know that with an attorney on their side, they have a fierce fighter who will stand up for them. It’s not worth risking your future – finding an attorney to help with your misdemeanor charges is crucial at this time.
Have you been charged with a misdemeanor? Then get in touch with Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>Find out the answers so you can protect yourself should you get pulled over.
You may think that you’ll face consequences for not taking a field sobriety test. However, you cannot be charged with an OVI if you refuse one of these. Even if you’re sober, it’s hard to pass a field sobriety test; they don’t really establish whether or not someone has been drinking or taking drugs. Police use sobriety tests to try to build a case against you, so you should refuse to take them.
While you don’t need to do field sobriety testing, you will need to do chemical testing if you are lawfully arrested for an OVI. Or, you could face charges. However, there are ways to fight the results of a chemical test. For instance, maybe the technician who administered it was not properly trained, or you had a rising blood alcohol content by the time you got tested. Your best course of action is to call a lawyer for help at this time.
Have you been charged with an OVI? Then contact Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>You do have options at this time. Here’s how to challenge your Ohio license suspension after you have been charged with an OVI.
Under Ohio law, you can appeal your suspension as early as your initial appearance on the charge or within 30 days of the initial appearance. Your appeal may be successful if the police did not arrest you for the right reasons or if there were any other errors with how they acted. Additionally, if the police didn’t file the paperwork properly, then your suspension may not hold up.
You may be able to ask the court for restricted driving privileges so that you can go to work or school or engage in other required day-to-day activities. For instance, if you have to take your child to school and you only have one car and no other option, you might be able to get permission to do this.
An attorney could help you make a request for your license to be reinstated and legally get you back on the road as soon as possible. All you need to do is reach out for assistance.
Have you been charged with an OVI? Then contact Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>Now, you’re wondering what to do. You don’t want to have to pay a fine or go to jail. To try and avoid these scenarios, you can figure out what to do after getting charged with an OVI.
It’s critical to know the definition of an OVI. In Ohio, it means Operating a Vehicle Impaired or Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence. It’s basically a DUI but with a different name. If this is your first charge, you could pay a fine between $375 to $1,075, pay for your driver’s license to be reinstated, and go to jail for three days or a driver intervention program if your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was .08 to .17.
After being charged with an OVI, the best course of action is to call a criminal defense attorney immediately. You should do this even before you decide to post bail because you may not have to. An attorney will go over your options and help you get your charges reduced – or perhaps even dropped altogether. You don’t want to risk your future. It’s a good idea to call an experienced attorney in Ohio.
Have you been charged with an OVI? Then get in touch with Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>First-degree felonies in Ohio include murder, rape, and kidnapping. If you are convicted of a first-degree felony, you could be sent to prison for three to 11 years and pay up to $20,000 in fines.
Some second-degree felonies in Ohio include felonious assault, criminal gang participation, and abduction. If you are convicted of a second-degree felony, you could face two to eight years in prison and a maximum of $15,000 in fines.
Third-degree felonies in Ohio include some drug offenses as well as fleeing, and they carry 9 months to 36 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
Fourth-degree felonies in Ohio include disrupting public services and vehicle theft, and you could be sentenced to six to 18 months behind bars as well as have to pay up to $5,000 in fines.
Fifth-degree felonies include breaking and entering as well as receiving stolen property. The penalties are six to 12 months in prison as well as up to $2,500 in fines.
Have you been charged with a felony? Then get in touch with Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
]]>Here is the difference between disorderly conduct and persistent disorderly conduct in Ohio.
In Ohio, disorderly conduct is making noise, engaging in violent behavior, taunting someone, or hindering people from moving on public streets. It’s a pretty broad law, and the prosecutor has the discretion to decide what to charge you with in Ohio. Disorderly conduct is typically a minor misdemeanor, and punishments include court fees, up to $150 in fines, and community service.
If you continued behaving a certain way after you were told to stop, then you could be charged with persistent disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The punishment may include up to $250 in fines, up to 30 days in jail, probation, house arrest, and up to 200 hours of community service. It all depends on the details of your case.
If you’ve been charged with disorderly conduct or persistent disorderly conduct in Ohio, it’s crucial to call a criminal lawyer ASAP. They will help you defend yourself against these charges and get them either reduced or dropped altogether.
Have you been charged with disorderly conduct or persistent disorderly conduct? Then get in touch with Ferguson Legal Group, LTD, where you’ll find the right person for the job among our team of experienced and skilled attorneys. Receive your free consultation today by calling 937-502-1040 or contacting us online.
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