In Massachusetts, domestic violence is defined as any act of physical, emotional, psychological, or economic abuse committed against a household member.
This includes spouses, former spouses, dating partners, and individuals living together.
If you’ve been charged with domestic violence, you need a Massachusetts domestic violence lawyer who will listen to your side of the story and come up with a customized defense based on your specific situation.
Definition of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence in Massachusetts is any act of abuse committed against a household member, including physical, emotional, psychological, or economic harm.
Assault and battery on a family or household member is the criminal charge in Massachusetts when physical harm is committed. A member of our team with Nate Amendola Defense may be able to get your charges dismissed or reduced.
Schedule a free consultation today by calling our office or submitting an online form to learn how we can help you with your case.
For a free legal consultation, call (781) 740-0800
Types of Domestic Violence
There are many different types of domestic violence, including physical, emotional, economic, and sexual abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse includes not just any act of physical violence committed against a household member, but also includes merely the threat of violence.
This physical violence may include, but is not limited to, hitting, choking, kicking, or using a weapon to cause harm.
Emotional Abuse
Any behavior that causes psychological harm to a household member, emotional abuse includes threats, isolation, intimidation, gaslighting, and controlling behavior.
Economic Abuse
Economic abuse is any behavior that limits or controls a household member’s access to financial resources.
This may include preventing someone from working, controlling their finances, or denying them access to essential resources.
Sexual Abuse
Any unwanted sexual contact, assault, or rape committed against a household member, sexual abuse includes touching, fondling, or forcing somebody to engage in sexual activity against their will.
Defending Against Domestic Violence Charges in Massachusetts
When you hire Nate Amendola Defense to represent you, we’ll listen to your version of events and come up with a customized plan to defend you.
Here are a few of the ways we might defend you against domestic violence charges.
Seek a Dismissal
When there is a noticeable lack of evidence against you, especially when we’re defending against false accusations of domestic violence, we may seek to have the case dropped entirely.
Challenge the Evidence
In some cases, we might question the credibility of witnesses, the reliability of evidence, or the sufficiency of the prosecution’s case.
Claim Self-Defense
If your partner started the fight or you feared for your safety, we might be able to claim that you were acting in self-defense.
Negotiate a Plea Deal
When there’s overwhelming evidence against you, we might negotiate a plea deal with the prosecution to minimize the consequences you face in exchange for pleading guilty to lesser charges.
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Consequences of Domestic Violence
Being accused of domestic violence can come with numerous consequences including restraining orders, criminal charges, fines, and even jail time.
Restraining Orders
Restraining orders prohibit you from contacting or coming within a certain distance of another person.
A restraining order might keep you away from your child if you are accused of harming their mother.
Criminal Charges
Depending on exactly what charges are brought against you, you may be looking at one or more misdemeanors or felonies, each with its own consequences.
If you’re found guilty, penalties for these criminal charges may include fines and jail time.
Extraneous Consequences
Being convicted of domestic violence can make it harder to keep or get a job or maintain stable housing.
At Nate Amendola Defense, we take a holistic approach to each case, so we always consider extraneous consequences in addition to the other legal consequences you might face if you’re convicted.
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When to Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you were arrested and charged with domestic violence, you should contact an experienced attorney from Nate Amendola Defense as soon as you can.
We’ll listen to your version of events and come up with a holistic plan to defend you against the accusations and minimize the consequences you end up facing.
We offer free initial consultations, so contact us today.
Benefits of Legal Representation
While you could save some money by letting a public defender take on your case, know that they are typically overwhelmed with too many cases and can’t give each client the best representation possible.
Nate Amendola Defense should be your first and last call after being charged with domestic violence. We use results-driven defense strategies to minimize the consequences our clients face.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Massachusetts Domestic Violence Lawyer
If you’ve been charged with domestic violence, schedule a free consultation with a Massachusetts domestic violence lawyer from Nate Amendola Defense.
We use open and honest communication along with a holistic approach to criminal defense to help our clients face the fewest consequences possible.
As part of our holistic approach, we offer collateral support such as assistance with addiction, mental health, or other personal issues, so contact us today.
Call or text (781) 740-0800 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form