What Should I Do if I've Been Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence?

The State of Tennessee takes domestic violence very seriously, and if you’ve been falsely accused, you should, too. Domestic violence charges tend to arise out of highly charged situations, and false accusations are not unheard of. Just because the accusation was manufactured, however, doesn’t mean that it can’t lead to very serious consequences for you, which makes consulting with an experienced Nashville domestic violence defense attorney sooner rather than later the wisest course of action.

One: Remain Calm

If you’ve been falsely accused of domestic violence, there’s a very good chance that escalating emotions, which may be solely attributable to your accuser, played a role. Once accusations have been made, it’s time to keep your own emotions in check.

While an intense emotional reaction is understandable under the circumstances, it’s very unlikely to work in your favor. Your goal in this challenging situation is distancing yourself from the allegation in the first place, and remaining calm from the outset is the best way to accomplish this.

Two: Retain Skilled Legal Guidance

A domestic violence conviction can lead to serious consequences, such as the following:

• Jail time
• A criminal record
• Social consequences, such as difficulty finding a job or renting an apartment and an overall decline in social standing

Successfully defending yourself from a false accusation of domestic violence is especially challenging because it comes down to proving a negative. Your attorney will ably handle the critical tasks involved, which can include:

• Gathering and skillfully compiling all the available evidence
• Calling your accuser’s credibility into question
• Proving your alibi
• Demonstrating that your guilt cannot be proven to any degree of certainty
• Shining a light on your accuser’s motivation for making the false accusation

Your attorney will focus on building your strongest defense, which is the surest means of proving your innocence.

Three: Establishing Your Innocence

Domestic violence charges rarely occur in a bubble, and related cases are often resolved with evidence that’s based on outside testimony. While your accuser may have witnesses on their side – whom they hope will speak to your aggressive nature –you can gather witnesses of your own.

Every domestic violence case is unique to the specific circumstances involved, but an individual who has never been overtly hostile, aggressive, or violent in the presence of those they know well is less likely to have engaged in a singular act of domestic violence that boils down to their own word against their accuser’s. If you can demonstrate that the person accusing you has a history of being less than truthful, it can also play a role.

Don’t Wait to Consult with an Experienced Nashville Domestic Violence Defense Attorney

Andrew Beasley – at Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, in Nashville – is a practiced domestic violence defense attorney who knows just how damaging false accusations can be and is well prepared to help you successfully manage this challenge from the outset – in fierce pursuit of an advantageous outcome. Your future is important, so please don’t wait to contact us online or call 615-709-9428 for more information about what we can do to help you today.