Q: What type of lawyer do i need if i want to file charges of assault and battery against someone?
I plan to go to the courts and file this friday but i would like to find a lawyer for my case. Its complicated by the fact that the person who came at me is my step daughters mother and there is an active ugly custody case.
A:
If you plan on filing a criminal complaint, you will not need a lawyer, per se, to do so. Once you make a criminal complaint, probable cause established and charges placed on an individual, a Commonwealth Attorney will be assigned to prosecute this/these
crime(s). The Commonwealth of Virginia is the responsible party from this point on. You may also have a civil claim against the accused party also. A civil claim involves awards of money; a criminal charge carries the penalty of fines and/or incarceration. Should you choose to file a civil claim against the accused party, you may contact a civil lawyer to represent you in a civil claim/tort claim against the defendant. Please be aware that there are strict time restrictions on making civil claims in the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
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