Fort Worth Continuous Family Violence Defense Lawyer

Knowledgeable Defense Attorney for Charges of Continuous Violence Against the Family in Fort Worth, Texas

Accusations of domestic violence should be treated seriously. Assault charges carry their own penalties, but when the case involves a repeat accusation, the court may factor in the defendant's relationship to the alleged victim, which could lead to stricter punishments. If you need legal help, get in contact with a Fort Worth, Texas continuous family violence defense attorney today.

At The Meza Law Firm, PLLC, we have experience investigating allegations of assault and family violence, as you can see in our successful case results. You can trust Attorney Edwardo Meza to fight for you in court and pursue the best possible outcome to your case.

How Is Continuous Violence Against the Family Defined in Texas?

In Texas, continuous violence against the family is not based on just one alleged incident. It applies when the state claims that a person committed family violence two or more times within a period of 12 months or less. The accusations must involve someone in a qualifying family or dating relationship, such as a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, household member, or certain relatives.

Texas law does not require the police to prove that the alleged acts happened on specific calendar dates in the way many people assume. In many cases, the prosecution only needs to claim that at least two separate acts took place during that time period. That can make this charge especially serious and difficult to defend against.

A person may be accused based on statements about an ongoing pattern rather than a single event with clear physical evidence. Sometimes one or both alleged incidents were never charged on their own. Even so, prosecutors may still try to combine accusations into one felony case. For that reason, anyone facing this allegation should take it seriously from the start.

Will You Go to Prison for a Continuous Family Violence Charge in Fort Worth?

Continuous violence against the family is charged as a third-degree felony in Texas. That means a conviction can expose you to two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A felony conviction can also affect your job, your reputation, your housing options, and your rights long after the criminal case ends.

Prison is possible, but it is not automatic in every case. The outcome can depend on the facts, your criminal history, the strength of the evidence, and how early your defense attorney gets involved. Still, you should not treat this like a minor domestic dispute that will simply go away. Once felony charges are filed, the stakes are high.

How Can You Contest a Continuous Family Violence Charge?

Every case is different, but there are many ways to fight a continuous family violence accusation. The right defense depends on the evidence, the witnesses, and whether the prosecution can actually prove two separate criminal acts within the required time period.

A defense may focus on weak or inconsistent statements, false accusations made during a breakup or custody dispute, lack of independent evidence, self-defense, or the state's failure to prove that the alleged incidents happened within 12 months of each other.

The sooner a defense lawyer reviews the allegations, the better your chances of protecting yourself. Waiting can make it harder to preserve messages, call records, surveillance footage, or other evidence that may help your case.

Contact a Fort Worth, TX Continuous Family Violence Defense Attorney

A continuous family violence charge can put your freedom and future at risk. At The Meza Law Firm, PLLC, Attorney Edwardo Meza defends people in Fort Worth against serious felony accusations and works to expose weak evidence and protect his clients' rights. Call 817-732-6392 or contact our Fort Worth, Texas continuous family violence defense lawyer to schedule a free consultation.