Facing domestic battery charges can leave you feeling overwhelmed with the potential legal consequences — and rightly so. Penalties, ranging from hefty fines to jail time, can have profound implications in your personal and professional life. To increase your chances of a successful defense against these charges, it’s important to get expert legal help as early as possible. With 13 years of experience as a former Deputy District Attorney as well as Jury Trial experience in all sorts of misdemeanors and felonies — including domestic battery cases — Mariya Melkonyan will expertly and effectively ..read more

Domestic violence charges can lead to penalties that range from small fines to five years in state prison, depending on the severity of the incident and other aggravating factors. Worse yet, if convicted, you’ll live with a criminal record and face over 5,000 legal restrictions — many of which are employment-related and 73% are permanent. Given that 61% of domestic violence cases result in a conviction, it’s important that a knowledgeable attorney gets involved in your case as soon as possible to increase the chance of a successful defense. With 13 years of experience as a former Deputy Distri ..read more

Under California’s Code of Civil Procedure, restraining orders protect people against harassment, abuse, stalking, or violent threats. To obtain a restraining order, the person filing it must have firm evidence and testimonies to prove the need for legal protection from the court system. Here, we’ll go over what happens at a restraining order hearing in California, the types of restraining orders, the levels of protection they offer, and more. If you or a loved one received a restraining order, Mariya Melkonyan and her team of defense attorneys can help you prepare for the restraining order he ..read more

Yes, in California, a domestic violence victim has the right to refuse to testify. According to California Civil Code Section 1219, victims are not obligated to testify, and they are exempt from contempt charges for refusing to do so. However, there may be consequences such as minor fees or community service if the victim refuses a subpoena. If you’re involved in a domestic violence case, seeking a knowledgeable domestic violence attorney is crucial for a successful outcome. Contact Mariya Melkonyan at mariya@melkonyanfirm.com or (424) 901-3131. What You Need to Know If You’re Involved in a Do ..read more

Hit-and-run DUI charges are some of the most complex in California because they involve two separate offenses. So much so that penalties can range from small fines to life in prison, depending on the severity of the incident and other aggravating factors. Here, you’ll learn all you need to know about hit-and-run DUI (California) cases, including the penalties, laws, example cases, and how to navigate them. The sooner a knowledgeable DUI attorney gets involved in your case, the higher the chances of a successful defense. Contact Maryia Melkonyan at maryia@melkonyanfirm.com or (424) 901-3131. De ..read more

Californians living with a criminal record face over 5,000 legal restrictions. Worse yet, 3,650 of those limitations are permanent. Consequently, 4 in 5 former convicts face barriers to accessing jobs, housing, education, financial services, adopting or fostering children, and more. California Penal Code 1203.4 allows eligible individuals to expunge their records, removing barriers to stable housing and employment. Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about CPC 1203.4, including what it is, the eligibility criteria, the expungement process, and more. What Is California Pena ..read more

80% of people with a past conviction experience barriers to job opportunities, housing, education, financial services, adopting or fostering children, and more. In fact, Californians living with a criminal record face over 5,000 legal restrictions — many of which are employment-related, and 73% are permanent. California SB 731 is a transformative bill designed to automatically seal the criminal records of eligible individuals and allow others to petition for it. For those experiencing the consequences of having a criminal record, this is an unprecedented opportunity to access stable housing, e ..read more

If convicted, your sentence could range from a hefty fine for a misdemeanor to six years in state prison for a felony. But you could even get 25-years-to-life if you have prior convictions. To make matters worse, the California child abuse laws are incredibly complex and hard to navigate. That’s why we decided to put together a comprehensive guide to help you understand the charges you’re facing, the consequences of a conviction, and potential defense strategies. Table of Contents Types of Child Neglect and Child Abuse Charges in California Before we get into specifics about the California chi ..read more

Degrees of Homicide in California Homicide is the act of taking another person’s life. It’s one of the most serious crimes under California law. In this article, we’ll delve into all three degrees of homicide under California law, the punishments for each, and possible defenses that an expert defense attorney can use. Most people think homicide and murder are the same thing. But, in legal terms, they aren’t. Homicide is a broad term that includes both legal and illegal killings. Killing someone else might not be considered a crime — during war or law-enforcement operations, for example. Murder ..read more

Degrees of Homicide in California Homicide is the act of taking another person’s life. It’s one of the most serious crimes under California law. In this article, we’ll delve into all three degrees of homicide under California law, the punishments for each, and possible defenses that an expert defense attorney can use. Most people think homicide and murder are the same thing. But, in legal terms, they aren’t. Homicide is a broad term that includes both legal and illegal killings. Killing someone else might not be considered a crime — during war or law-enforcement operations, for example. Murder ..read more