Florida domestic violence defense
A domestic-violence allegation can bring a criminal case, a no-contact order, and immediate consequences at home and at work, sometimes before the facts have been tested in court. The Bonderud Law Firm represents people accused of domestic battery and related offenses in Jacksonville and across Florida, and we also handle injunction proceedings when they travel with the criminal case.
The criminal case and the injunction
Florida domestic-battery charges may be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on injury, prior history, and other facts. The State must prove the charge. A related injunction for protection is a civil proceeding with its own burden of proof, notice requirements, and potential restrictions on contact, firearms, and housing. The two matters can influence each other. Due process still applies in both.
We pay close attention to the charging document, medical records, 911 recordings, body-camera video, and witness accounts. Inconsistent statements, issues of self-defense, and questions about who was the primary aggressor are common. Our writing on dating-violence injunctions and on defense of domestic-violence charges discusses the legal framework in greater depth.
Family-law overlap
Allegations sometimes arise during a divorce or a timesharing dispute. We do not assume that a family case and a criminal case should be handled in isolation. When both are pending, a careful plan is required so that a statement in one forum is not used carelessly in the other.
If you have been arrested, served with an injunction, or asked to appear, call (904) 438-8082 during office hours. After-hours messages are reviewed the next business day. Do not use this form to send confidential details. This page is general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Questions we are often asked
What are the office hours?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, at 2130 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204. Messages left after hours or on weekends are reviewed the next business day. For urgent matters, call (904) 438-8082.
Does contacting the firm create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Submitting this form or calling the office does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information before an engagement is agreed. This website is general information, not legal advice.
Do you have more than one office?
No. The firm's only office is at 2130 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville. We represent clients throughout Florida, and in selected federal matters elsewhere, from that office.