Hiring An Attorney For Dog Attack InjuriesHiring An Attorney For Dog Attack Injuries


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Hiring An Attorney For Dog Attack Injuries

Hey there, I am Erin Arnolds. I was simply walking down the street a year ago, minding my own business, when a dog burst out from behind a house and attacked me. I was helpless to protect myself from the ferocious bites and scratches from that angry animal. Neighbors finally came out and pulled the dog off me, which ended up saving my life. At the hospital, I received hundreds of stitches and stayed in a medically induced coma for several weeks. Upon coming out of the coma, I immediately called a lawyer to receive help suing the dog owners for the attack. I needed to have my hospital bills and lost wages covered by the owners of that vicious dog. Due to that experience, I created this site to help others learn how to hire a lawyer and obtain compensation for injuries caused by a dog attack.

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Convicted of a Crime? It Could Affect Your Custody Case

Child custody laws vary from state to state, but judges typically make decisions based on what is in the best interests of the child. During your custody case, you must be careful not to do anything that makes the judge question your ability to provide a safe, stable environment for any children in your care. One factor that can affect the judge's perception of you as a parent is a criminal conviction on your record. Minor offenses are not likely to affect the judge's decision, but a conviction for a violent crime or a crime that put others in danger can hurt your chances of gaining custody. If you have a criminal record, inform your child custody attorney right away so you can work together to determine how the conviction might affect your specific case.

Why Do Convictions Matter?

Criminal convictions matter in a custody case because they help the judge determine if the parent has good moral character. In some cases, a criminal conviction causes the judge to question a parent's mental stability, or even to wonder if a parent has committed criminal acts while his or her children were present. The judge is responsible for making a decision that ensures the safety and well-being of all minors involved in a custody case. Therefore, criminal convictions are considered along with factors such as the safety of the home environment and the emotional stability of the parent.

Conviction Timing

When assessing your criminal record, the judge will take into account the amount of time that has passed since the conviction. If your conviction was many years ago and you can demonstrate that you have made an effort to live a law-abiding life since then, the judge may decide that the conviction has no bearing on your custody case. The judge may not look so favorably on a recent conviction, especially if you committed the crime after your custody case was already in progress. 

Type of Offense

The type and severity of the offense you committed can also influence a judge's decision in a custody case. Violent offenses, such as assault or robbery, are likely to hurt your case more than nonviolent offenses. Convictions related to domestic violence are especially damaging to a custody case, as some states have special laws governing the placement of a child with a person who has been convicted of domestic abuse or a related crime. For example, California has special law 3044, which prevents judges from granting custody to anyone convicted of domestic violence against a child, parent, spouse, or intimate partner or the other parent involved in the case. Under this special law, a judge can only grant custody to someone with a domestic violence conviction in the last five years if it is in the best interests of the child.

Custody issues are complex, and the existence of special laws and regulations makes it difficult to predict the outcome of any individual case. If you are seeking custody of a child, be sure to work with a professional child custody attorney, especially if you have a criminal record. Past convictions can hurt your custody case, especially if the conviction was for a violent crime, or if the crime took place within the past few years.