Legal Tips on How to Protect Your Family in Event of Criminal Charge
The legal system is not always fair. And the burden of proof in criminal cases often falls on the accused, who has to demonstrate his or her innocence. It’s not unusual for an innocent person to be convicted.
There are many ways that a criminal charge can affect your family, even if you weren’t aware of the crime at all. For example, there might be long-term consequences for financial matters and children’s education plans, among other things.
If you have any doubts about what may happen in these areas, we have created this list with legal tips to help you out. Let’s get started.
- In the case of assault
When you are assaulted by someone, your family could be affected in several different ways. This applies even more so to cases of sexual assault. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, or have been wrongly accused of it, a rape law firm in Wichita suggests that you seek out an attorney to help you as soon a possible.
You might have to stay home or leave, depending on how you are feeling. This can affect the career that you may have been building up for years. Not only that, but if you are unable to work due to medical reasons, this would mean a loss of income for your family.
In the event that you win a personal injury claim, this could help cover future healthcare bills and loss of income.
- In the case of theft
If your home is broken into and possessions are stolen, there can be a lot of emotional damage done to your family. It’s an invasion in a way that many people don’t realize. If you can find the people responsible, you could file a civil lawsuit against them and recoup the money that was lost. Your best chances for this would be if you had it covered through renters or home insurance.
- In cases of domestic violence
Domestic violence is defined as physical or emotional abuse between family members. The emotional damage can be very hard on younger children, especially if they have to testify in a case involving domestic violence.
If you feel threatened by someone who is family or not, that person should be kept away from your loved ones. In some cases, this might mean calling the police and asking for a restraining order against him or her.
- In cases of vehicular homicide
When you are accused of vehicular manslaughter, your family may be under a lot of added stress. Not only will you have to deal with this hardship on your own, but you will also have to think about how it affects them. They might not know the right steps to take in order to help you. And, if you are in prison serving a sentence, they might need to hire someone to take care of your affairs while you’re away.
- In cases that involve murder
When someone is accused of murder, it’s often considered to be an open-and-shut case. In most cases, there is a ton of evidence that links the accused to the crime. If you are facing charges for this type of crime, it’s best to reach out to a criminal defense attorney right away. They can help you prepare your own defense in front of a judge and jury. This will at least give you a fighting chance at beating the charges.
In case you are convicted of a crime and believe that you were unjustly convicted, you may have a chance to appeal your case. Depending on the state you were convicted in, this process could take up to several years and involve a series of highly detailed legal proceedings. In Milwaukee, WI, for instance, any appeals must be made within three years of the conviction. It is therefore crucial to contact a criminal appeals attorney in Milwaukee as soon as possible if you believe that your rights may have been violated during the trial.
- In cases of false accusations
This type of situation is one of the most difficult. If you are falsely accused of a crime, it can turn your life upside down in no time at all. You might have trouble with your family because they don’t know what to believe anymore. And you could be facing serious prison time for someone else’s crimes.
Even if you are released from prison, you will still face jail time when you’re later proven innocent. And when your reputation is ruined, it will be very hard to rebuild your life, no matter how much money you have.
No one is immune to criminal charges, and when they are filed against you, the impact can be far-reaching. Not only do you have to worry about the legal ramifications, but also the potential damage is done to your relationships with family and friends.
In this article, we have outlined some of the key areas that you need to focus on when protecting your loved ones during a criminal charge. By following our legal tips, you can help minimize the negative effects that a criminal charge may have on them.