Consultations by Appointment Only
A Kennebunk domestic violence lawyer can help you sort out what often arrives at once: a criminal case at the York Judicial Center in Biddeford and, sometimes, a protection from abuse petition in the same building. We can explain how the two fit together.
A former Maine Assistant District Attorney on our team
Felony defense in all 16 Maine counties
Offices in Kennebunk, Brunswick and Portland
Confidential. Reviewed by an attorney, not an intake service.
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An assault or a threat becomes a domestic violence charge when the other person is a family or household member or a dating partner.
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Bail conditions in these cases can include no contact with the alleged victim and be being barred from returning home. They apply as soon as they are signed.
A protection from abuse petition is a separate civil case. It can be filed while the criminal case is still open.
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The State brings the case. The person who called the police cannot drop it. Only the prosecutor or the court can dismiss it.
A domestic violence assault charge in Kennebunk, Maine. A domestic assault lawyer in Kennebunk, Maine can explain the class and what it means.
Alleged repeated conduct to include following the person or surveilling them.
A PFA lawyer in Kennebunk, Maine can represent you at the hearing.
The charge is printed on your bail paper or summons. You can note it in the form, and we will go over it with you.
Address
From our office
Charged in a neighboring town? Kennebunkport and Wells are also in York County, so their cases are heard in Biddeford too. If you need a domestic violence lawyer near Kennebunkport, Maine, or a DV lawyer in Wells, Maine, this is your courthouse.
We are at 119 Main Street in downtown Kennebunk, on Route 1.
Fill in the form or call 207-571-8146 to request a consultation. Bring your bail paper and any PFA papers so we can go over them with you.
Officers respond, take statements and decide whether to make an arrest.
Conditions are set and apply right away.
A temporary order can come first, followed by a hearing.
In Biddeford, the court explains the charge and your rights. For a misdemeanor, a plea is usually entered.
The prosecutor and the defense meet to discuss the case.
If the case is not resolved, it can go to motions and then trial.
Founder and Managing Attorney William T. Bly is a seasoned trial lawyer with two decades of experience defending clients in Maine state and federal courts against charges ranging from OUI and drug trafficking to manslaughter and serious sexual assault, drawing on advanced training from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College.
With nearly 25 years of experience as a former Maine Assistant District Attorney, seasoned trial attorney, and winning appellate advocate before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Attorney Feldman now brings rigorous preparation, an educator’s clarity, and nonjudgmental compassion to his criminal defense clients.
Domestic violence cases from Kennebunk are heard at the York Judicial Center, 515 Elm Street in Biddeford. The criminal case is in the York County Unified Criminal Docket, and a protection from abuse petition filed in York County is heard by the District Court in the same building. Cases from Kennebunkport and Wells go there too.
Conditions are set on a case by case. In domestic violence cases they can include no contact with the other person, no return to the home, no use or possession of firearms or dangerous weapons, and no alcohol. They apply as soon as they are signed. We can go over bail conditions for domestic violence in Kennebunk, Maine at a consultation.
That depends on the bail conditions. If they bar contact with someone who lives there, or bar return to the home, going home would be a violation, which is a separate crime. The court can review conditions. A Kennebunk domestic violence defense lawyer can explain how that review works.
A protection from abuse case is decided at a hearing where both sides can present evidence, and the person asking for the order must prove the allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. What is said there can matter in a related criminal case. Questions about a protection from abuse hearing for a Kennebunk, Maine case can be discussed at a consultation.
No. The State brings the case, not the person who called the police. That person can share their wishes with the prosecutor, but only the prosecutor or the court can dismiss a charge. A York County domestic violence attorney can explain what that means for your case.
A charge can be dismissed by the prosecutor or the court, but that depends on the facts and the evidence, and no lawyer can promise it. Some cases end in dismissal, some in a reduced charge, some in a plea and some at trial. Our Kennebunk office can explain the process at a consultation.
Our office is on Main Street in downtown Kennebunk. York County domestic violence cases and PFA petitions from Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells are heard at the York Judicial Center in Biddeford. As a Kennebunk domestic violence lawyer team and Kennebunk, Maine domestic violence defense attorney team, we focus on criminal defense. Call 207-571-8146 or fill in the form.
We are a boutique law firm, and we stand out by prioritizing our clients’ well-being. At The Maine Legal Group, our experienced team offers personalized attention in both criminal defense and divorce cases.
The Maine Criminal Defense Group adeptly handles all areas of criminal defense practice, including experienced and skilled legal representation for state and federal charges.
The Maine Divorce Group empowers individuals skillfully navigating divorce with compassionate guidance, ensuring a brighter future through the challenges of the process.
