Family arguments are part of life, but when law enforcement gets involved, these arguments become a criminal matter. It is commonly believed that when the accuser refuses to press charges, the matter goes away. This is not always the case.

State of Florida Statute 741.28-741.38 identifies domestic violence as any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.

According to the Statute, a “family or household member” refers to spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common, regardless of whether or not they have been married (as long as they are or have resided together in the same dwelling unit). See Florida Statute 741.28

Whether you are the victim or the accused, you have rights. Contact us for a free confidential initial consultation to review how the law applies to your case and your rights.