Domestic Violence

Illinois Domestic Battery Lawyer

Our Kane County domestic violence defense lawyers at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., know how confusing and stressful any domestic violence charge can be. A person accused of domestic battery or a restraining order violation may have been wrongly accused. Often the alleged victim does not want to pursue charges but the prosecutor will not drop the charges. Many people charged with domestic battery have lived a law abiding life and have never abused anyone before, and find themselves charged with domestic violence for a minor incident that would not have been prosecuted a few short years ago. Sometimes the prosecution process can cause more division within the family than the alleged incident that led to the charge.

Our Illinois domestic violence attorneys can thoroughly investigate your case and work hard to win an acquittal or to try to otherwise avoid a permanent criminal conviction. If you have been charged with any type of domestic violence, contact a domestic violence defense attorney at our firm, Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., right away. We offer a free initial consultation.

Domestic Violence Charges

Our Illinois domestic battery lawyers have defended people charged with all types of domestic violence. We have helped people charged with crimes affecting their family or household, including:

• domestic battery (the victim alleges bodily harm or a touching of an "insulting or provoking nature")
• aggravated battery (battery using a deadly weapon, or other aggravating factors, such as pregnancy of victim)
• domestic assault (the victim alleges that he or she was in fear of receiving a battery)
• aggravated assault (assault with a weapon)
• violation of an Illinois order of protection or violation of restraining order
• stalking (an incident has occurred at least twice and the victim alleges receiving threats of bodily harm)
• aggravated stalking (when the victim alleges harm or injury)
• unlawful restraint

Penalties for Domestic Violence Convictions

Domestic violence crimes can result in anything from a sentence of probation or conditional discharge to time in the county jail or even prison. Under some circumstances a domestic violence offense can be enhanced to a felony charge, depending on the prior criminal history of the accused or the circumstances of the case. A conviction for a domestic violence charge can affect one's ability to obtain or keep an FOID card. A non-citizen convicted of even a very minor domestic battery incident can be deported and never allowed to return to this country. That is why it is critical that you talk to a skilled domestic violence defense attorney immediately if you have been accused of crimes such as domestic battery, stalking, violation of an order of protection or unlawful restraint. Contact the Illinois domestic violence attorneys at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., to discuss your case. We offer free initial consultations.