Domestic violence can cause irreparable harm in dating relationships and marriages, and it can result in trauma for children living in the household or minor children from the relationship. Whether you have questions about how domestic violence could affect a child custody case or you need assistance seeking help with a domestic violence situation, an experienced attorney can help you. Scott A. Hamblin can assist you with the process of seeking an order of protection or handling domestic violence in relation to a child custody case. When you are searching for a “domestic violence lawyer near me,” you should know that Scott A. Hamblin is dedicated to serving clients in Missouri and can begin working with you on your case today.
What is domestic violence under Missouri law? According to the Missouri Domestic Violence Act, domestic violence includes acts of “abuse or stalking committed by a family or household member.” Missouri law defines abuse as “acts, attempts or threats of assault, battery, coercion, harassment, sexual assault, and unlawful imprisonment.” More specifically, abuse that is classified as domestic violence can include:
Domestic violence also includes stalking, which Missouri law defines as engaging in “an unwanted course of conduct that causes alarm to another person.” The law more precisely defines alarm as “causing “fear of danger of physical harm.”
If you have been the victim of domestic violence, or if you are currently in fear for your safety, you may be able to seek an order of protection. Missouri law defines an order of protection as “an order issued by a Missouri court pursuant to the Domestic Violence Act that restrains a person from abusing, stalking, sexually assaulting, or harassing another person.” If you are able to obtain an order of protection, the respondent can face criminal consequences if they violate the order of protection. There are two general types of orders of protection for domestic violence in Missouri:
It is important to know that orders of protection, and allegations of domestic violence, can affect child custody cases. While Missouri courts begin from the presumption that joint custody is appropriate so that children can have relationships with both parents, the existence of domestic violence can change that presumption.
Do you have questions or need help with a domestic violence case? An experienced domestic violence lawyer near you can assist you. Contact Scott A. Hamblin today for more information.
A Jefferson City man faced DUI charges following a field sobriety test. Charges against the defendant were dropped after Scott successfully maintained the client’s claims that the test results were inaccurate. While the client initially appeared to be in a difficult situation, Scott was able to push investigators to determine the sobriety test results as invalid, so the charges were dismissed.
A mother was seeking sole custody of her children following a divorce. The father refused to cooperate, leaving the client in a difficult situation as she felt as though her children didn’t have a voice. Scott recognized her need for an advocate and carefully listened to the children’s wishes, which conclusively helped the client achieve sole custody of her children and protected their best interests.
A client from Fulton was accused of drug possession as a result of a home search. While drug charges may potentially be filed as a Class C felony involving severe consequences, Scott was able to help the client receive a reduced sentence. Ultimately, the client faced significantly smaller penalties compared to the initial charges.
Scott assisted a defendant in a particularly challenging divorce case in which the other spouse was not cooperating. Scott was able to help the client avoid court through an aggressive legal approach to resolve all outstanding disagreements while maintaining the client’s long-term needs.
One client sought legal assistance after an altercation with another individual in Jefferson City. The client was arrested on assault charges despite allegedly not starting the fight. Since an arrest can lead to life-altering penalties such as being terminated from employment and serving jail time, Scott was able to build a solid legal defense in the client’s favor and argued in favor of the client’s innocence.
A grandparent sought visitation rights to his grandchild after the parent tried to block him. Scott takes grandparents’ rights very seriously, and so he devised a strategy to help the grandparent set a visitation schedule. Scott developed a strategy to show that the child’s best interests were fulfilled through the grandparent’s ability to visit the child, helping push the case towards a resolution in the client’s favor.
Scott assisted a client who was injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence. The defendant claimed that the opposing party using their phone at the time of the crash, and Scott emphasized this claim to show that the other driver was at fault for the client’s injuries. The case concluded with the client receiving the necessary compensation for medical bills following a long hospital stay due to injuries.
Scott and his office were so helpful, thorough and professional during a very adversarial divorce. He offers good solid advice. He does not pursue options which will more than likely not yield a good result ( unless the client insists). He strives to give his clients the best results for their money. He's personable but…
Mr. Hamblin is one of the best attorneys we have ever had the privilege to use. He is courteous and to the point. I would recommend him to anyone and we will continue to use his services.
Scott Hamblin is simply put - the best! Scott deserves 10 stars! He has all the qualities a person could ask for with legal representation and more. I even had a lawyer from another county tell me, Mr. Hamblin is an excellent lawyer. That remark alone told me how respected he is, by his peers.…
Scott Hamblin is the best lawyer that I have ever met. He really cares about his clients and does not sugar coat anything. He works very hard to help his clients, and knows the law very well, and he will work with you on your tab if he can. The staff there is very helpful…
I am very pleased with Mr. Hamblin. I needed an attorney for my custody case and I did not know who to use. I found Mr. Hamblin on the internet. All the reviews I read and now my experiences with him and his team are spot on. I was being denied reasonable time with my…
I was thoroughly impressed with Scott Hamblin and his team, Madasyn and Cameo, as they represented me in a very difficult case, involving multiple businesses and complexities. Scotts knowledge and expertise was invaluable. He and his team involved me every step of the way throughout the entire process. I was included in email correspondences, as…
Finding an attorney is not easy, and in my case I was in a child custody modification that was being dragged out and messy. This went on for a full 3.5 years. I had other representation at the time that I didn’t feel was doing what was best for me and my kids. I reached…
My divorce was with a difficult person, Mr.Hamblin handled every aspect of the divorce, professionally and quickly, his experience and knowledge was extremely helpful. thank you, Mr.Hamblin for your support.
Scott helped us with a very difficult situation with utmost professionalism and expertise. He was at all times very professional and considerate of our needs. He provided excelent advise.
Scott will forever be regarded by myself as the best divorce lawyer in Jefferson City bar none. His service, expertise, knowledge and dedication to all of his clients is top notch. I hope that no one ever finds themselves in a position of his services, but if you do, you cannot make a wrong choice…
For accessible and experienced representation, contact attorney Scott Hamblin today.
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