Louisville Child Abuse Lawyer

In a Kentucky divorce or child custody case, one of the parents may find themselves accused of child abuse. In these situations, your rights as a parent, and possibly your child’s safety, is at stake. If facing a contested divorce in Anchorage or a custody battle in Lyndon, you need to hire a Louisville child abuse lawyer who can stand up to protect your fundamental rights and those of your children.

Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, Is Here for You

For the last three decades, the team at Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC has been working hard to protect individuals who have been falsely accused of abuse, as well as victims who have suffered real and honest harm. We know the local court system and how these cases are handled in Jefferson County and throughout the state. Let us put this experience toward protecting you and your children.

At Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, we pride ourselves on our compassionate and competent legal service and are here to meet you wherever you are, whether you are accused of child abuse or believe your child may be a victim. We understand how tricky family law cases can be, especially those involving children, and how false accusations may come into play. Let us work today to protect your future as a parent and the safety of your child.

Understanding Child Abuse in Louisville

In 2022, an estimated 558,899 children suffered abuse in the United States. Six in ten children regularly suffer some kind of psychological violence or physical punishment at the hands of a parent or other caregiver. However, it is important to keep in mind that false accusations can and do happen, especially in divorce or child custody cases. They occur at a rate of 2 to 10%.

If you have been falsely accused, it is wise to understand what counts as child abuse in Louisville so as to better defend yourself against these allegations. Child abuse can include any of the following behaviors or actions:

• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Psychological abuse
• Failure to address the medical needs of a child
• Failure to provide for the child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter
• Exploiting a child
• Causing a risk for sexual abuse or exploitation of that child

At Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, we are here to help our clients better understand the legal definitions of child abuse. This can help you build a strong defense or help you when seeking justice for a child who has been harmed.

Family Law Penalties for Child Abuse

When children become involved in family law cases, the tension between the parents only increases. Sometimes it can grow to a point where one parent, in their desperation, accuses the other of child abuse. In certain situations, a simple misunderstanding or miscommunication can result in an action interpreted as abuse.

Being accused of child abuse can have huge ramifications for your family law case, including:

• Custody arrangements. In milder cases, a judge may decide not to offer joint custody, but instead give sole custody to the non-offending parent and only offer the accused visitation time.
• Visitation rights. If an individual is suspected or accused of child abuse, they might find that their visitation rights are terminated or they can only have visitation with their child under the supervision of a third party.
• Termination of parental rights. In the most serious cases of child abuse, the parent accused of harming their child could see their parental rights terminated, and may not be allowed to have contact with their child. This can be devastating for both the parent and the child, especially when accusations are false. You will want an attorney who can defend you appropriately.

At the end of the day, you want to do whatever is in the best interest of your child. Whether you believe your co-parent has harmed them, or you are being accused of abuse and your time with your child is being threatened, the team at Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC is here for you.

Defending You Against Child Abuse Allegations

When you have been falsely accused of child abuse in Louisville, you need a legal champion who can advocate for and protect your parental rights. Our professional and skilled legal team can review your case and determine which defense strategy might work for you. Common defense strategies against accusations of child abuse include:

• Your alleged actions were accidental in nature and did not result from any reckless, willful, or intentional act.
• Your alleged actions were accidental in nature and did not result from any reckless, willful, or intentional act.
• Based on the child’s age and maturity, you were acting within reason and exercising your parental care and supervision over that child.
• You did not think your actions would cause harm to the child.
• The prosecution assigned to your case does not have sufficient evidence to prove the elements of child abuse.

If you find yourself accused of child abuse, you need to act quickly. Judges and prosecutors take these charges extremely seriously. The sooner you hire an attorney from our firm, the sooner we can begin working on your case and the better your chances are at keeping your parental rights intact. When you stand accused, even if the allegations are completely false, hire a lawyer who can defend you.

Hire a Child Abuse Lawyer Today

Whether you have been accused of child abuse or are looking for legal protection for your child, you need to hire a child abuse lawyer today. Your parental rights might be at risk, and in severe cases, if you are found guilty of abuse, your child may even be removed from your care. Contact the team at Straw-Boone Doheny Banks Mudd Catalano & McKinney, PLLC, today to schedule your initial consultation and learn more about how we can protect you and your child.