A Compassionate Branch of Law: Family Law
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A Compassionate Branch of Law: Family Law

Family attorneys fight hard for their clients, and they often have to help those clients navigate difficult situations. Perhaps you are divorcing your spouse, and you need help securing your financial future through alimony. Or maybe you are trying to adopt a child who has been the victim of abuse, and you need a lawyer to guide you through the legal process of gaining guardianship. A good family lawyer does not just help their clients navigate the law; they help their clients move forward into better life situations. We appreciate the work these attorneys do, and we have dedicated this blog to spread the word about their profession.

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A Compassionate Branch of Law: Family Law

Is It a Felony to Possess Drugs?

Raymond Lee

One of the worst things that can befall anybody is that they are charged with a felony. These serious crimes can be difficult to fight, especially without a felony lawyer on your side. This is what you need to know about drug possession charges and how they may be charged as a felony in the future.

1. What Makes Drug Possession More Serious?

Drug possession laws can become more serious if you are accused of having a more addictive substance or if you have been accused of possessing a very large quantity of the substance. Some states also charge different crimes more seriously than others.

Other aggravating factors include location. For example, possessing substances near a school or at a public park could be more serious. If you have been accused of having substances at drug treatment centers or near a child, this could also make your case more severe. You could face a felony if you already have a history of drug possession. For example, this might be a second offense.

2. What Are Felony Punishments?

Felony punishments are much more serious, and they could involve years in prison and even tens of thousands of dollars in fines. This means you could lose your job and miss out on a lot of time with your family. You miss out on many aspects of life.

3. Why Are the Punishments Harsher?

The punishments are higher in some cases because the courts want to prevent people from selling substances. This is why possession of drugs with intent to sell can be so serious and result in harsher penalties.

4. How Can You Defend Yourself?

You will need a strong strategy you can use to defend yourself with when you go to court. For example, you need to prove that the substances did not belong to you or that you had nothing to do with any attempt to distribute them.

Your strategy might also involve proving that the substance was planted on you or that the search and seizure of the evidence involved was performed illegally. As a result, the charges might not be able to stand up in court.

5. How Can You Fight These Charges?

The best way to fight these charges is to hire a felony lawyer. They can help you figure out a defense strategy and protect you from being forced to spend years in prison--especially if you are completely innocent.


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