Defense Against Domestic Violence Charges
Tough, Aggressive Representation anywhere in Pennsylvania including Bucks, Chester and Delaware Counties, Philadelphia — 24-Hour Emergency Consultations
A successful Protection From Abuse (PFA) petition or a successful defense of a Protection From Abuse petition involves knowing what happens in the courtroom and what witnesses, police reports, medical reports, text messages, instagram, facebook, or social media are important to your case. PFA petitions are also used by parents trying to get an edge in a Child Custody case. Domestic Abuse is a state mandated factor in child custody cases.
The consequences of a PFA Order are very serious. If a person is accused of violating a PFA order he or she can be arrested if you pay the mortgage a Judge can evict you from your home for up to 3 years. A person can lose their gun permit or firearm.
Since the factual allegations in a Protection From Abuse case often are similar to allegations of assault that the police investigate it is common that a person is arrested and a PFA petition is filed. Douglas p. Earl, Esquire has represented people in both Family Court and Criminal Court
Once a PFA petition is filed. The person filing the PFA petition will be taken to see a Judge who will ask you questions. Your boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or relative will not be present. A Temporary PFA Order will be entered after seeing the judge. The next court date will be the full PFA hearing in which you and your ex are supposed to be present. An Affidavit of Service that is in the PFA packet has to be handed to the court officer on the day of your PFA hearing. In order to have a completed Affidavit of Service form you have to call 911 from a location near the home as soon as possible after receiving the Temporary PFA of the person you filed against. You wait for the police. You give the police a copy of the PFA order scheduling the PFA Order and PFA petition to serve your ex. The police will complete the Affidavit of Service for you to give the court officer on the day of your PFA hearing.
Many things can happen once a Temporary PFA order is issued. Sometimes the Temporary Order schedules a hearing only. Many times the Temporary Order has more than scheduling a hearing in it. You can be evicted from your home until the full PFA hearing is scheduled. Oftentimes the eviction happens on the word alone of the person filing the PFA petition. A person who has a Temporary PFA usually is forced to surrender his or her firearm.
Douglas P. Earl, Esquire will prepare you for your PFA hearing. It is often a quick turnaround for the scheduling of a PFA hearing – less than 10 days. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire will prepare questions for you to answer and questions to cross examine your ex with. Mr. Earl will work to get police reports, instagram information, texts, facebook, cell phone video information. During the past 35 years Mr. Earl has represented over 1000 people in PFA cases.
October 30, 2023: M.N.W. vs. D.G.M., Protection from Abuse – Douglas P. Earl, Esquire represents D.G.M. against a Protection from Abuse Petition filed by his ex-live in girlfriend M.N.W. Judge dismisses PFA petition. M.N.W. claimed that D.G.M. assaulted and intimidated her. She testified that she was afraid of D.G.M. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire was ready with a strong cross examination and defense. Ex-girlfriend had their six year old daughter testify. Two sisters of D.G.M. testified. One sister testified that she was on the phone with D.G.M. and overheard an argument but no threats or violence. The second sister testified that the six year old child of M.N.W. and D.G.M. went to her house after the argument for dinner and the child was fine.
October 1, 2020 – Protection From Abuse petition filed by Mother of client’s children is dismissed after a contested hearing. Mother claimed that my client the Father told her “He was going to whoop my ass.” Mother claimed that Father in the past had busted her lip, and pulled her hair. Mother testified that she was afraid of Father. Defense successful that Mother was trying to get an advantage in custody court, that there was no police involvement, medical care, and there was no text messages. V.D. vs. J.M., Case No. 2009V7199.
December 19, 2018 client not guilty of domestic violence including charge of false imprisonment and terroristic threats after trial.
For experienced representation in Protection From Abuse (PFA) cases, restraining orders, and domestic violence criminal charges enlist the assistance of the Law Office of Douglas Earl LLC. We are dedicated to standing strong for your rights, both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Douglas P. Earl, Esquire has helped many victims of domestic violence obtain restraining orders. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire helped a medical student obtain a final PFA order from her ex-boyfriend who was also a medical student. Mr. Earl obtain a substantial civil settlement where a family member was assaulted.
Defense against domestic violence charges in Bucks, Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery County and throughout Pennsylvania in cases involving allegations of abuse between family or household members, sexual or intimate partners, boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses or siblings. You may have to appear in Family Court as a result of your family member or partner filing a Protection From Abuse Act Petition (PFA) against you.
If the police are involved, you may also have been arrested. You might be in a situation where you have to appear in Family Court to defend against a Protection From Abuse Act Petition (PFA) as well as in Criminal Court to defend against assault charges. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire has been in fighting in court on behalf of individuals caught in awkward and difficult situations where they are most vulnerable.
Douglas P. Earl, Esquire has successfully defended a man accused by his ex-wife of threatening her through email and text messages. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire has successfully defended a man who was accused of assaulting the mother of his child during a custody exchange. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire successfully defended a man frustrated over not seeing his child texted his ex-girlfriend that he was going to have a family member beat her up.
V.C vs. R.C: Mr. Earl defends adult daughter against allegations of abuse in a Protection From Abuse case brought by adult Mother. Case was dismissed. Adult Mother was represented by attorney from Senior Law Center. Mother accused client of threatening her numerous times. Case had to go to court three times because the Court did not call the case for a hearing the first two times it was before a Judge. The Court claimed it had a crowded docket. Mother claimed she was in fear. Mr. Earl cross examined Mother that her actions did not show this.
There are long term consequences of having a restraining order or a criminal conviction on your record. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire has saved many people from this fate.
With over 34 years of experience, Douglas P. Earl, Esquire knows how to assert your rights and protect your interests. We know the steps that must be taken to confront a difficult legal challenge. You can count on us.
Domestic Violence charges are complex. Douglas P. Earl, Esquire has defended both victims and those accused of abuse who either have had civil Protection From Abuse petitions to pursue or defend against, or have been arrested because of domestic violation allegations or both civil and criminal allegations to deal with. Mr. Earl will sit down with you and prepare you to deal with the abuse allegations. He will explain to you your options.
Is it advisable to ask the court to allow a cooling off period before resolving your case favorably?
Mr. Earl vigorously pursues or defends your case.
Do you believe that you have been falsely accused of domestic violence? Does the alleged victim want to drop the charges against you?
When the police arrive at the scene of a domestic dispute, they often are ready to arrest someone. When a person is charged with domestic violence does the alleged victim does not have the right to drop the charges?
You Don’t Want to Face the Consequences of a Conviction
You don’t want to be on a central registry because a Final protection from Abuse Order has been entered against you.
If you are convicted of a domestic violence or domestic assault charge you may face incarceration. You may also have to deal with a protection-from-abuse or PFA order that keeps you away from your home and your family. We have handled thousands of domestic violence and PFA cases.
Our goal is to prevent you from having to deal with these life-changing consequences. We are good at achieving our goals.
We Fight for You!
Going to court is not something that we shy away from. We know very well that prosecutors are not always willing to play fair and agree to an acceptable resolution.
In those situations, your defense must be presented at trial. We understand courtroom techniques and the best strategies for convincing a judge or jury. We know how to explore every opportunity to obtain positive outcomes in cases involving domestic violence charges.
We’re Here When You Need Us
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help people in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania.
Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney today.
