What Counts as Domestic Violence in Beverly Hills

In California, “domestic violence” doesn’t just mean serious assaults. Prosecutors in Beverly Hills can file charges for a wide range of conduct if it involves an intimate partner, former partner, family member, cohabitant, or parent of your child.

Allegations often include:

• Physical contact — Even minor marks, redness, or swelling can be labeled a “traumatic condition” and used to justify charges.

• Verbal disputes — Arguments that involve threats, raised voices, or intimidation are enough for a criminal case.

• Property damage — Breaking a phone, slamming a door, or damaging household items during a fight can be treated as domestic violence.

• Restraining order issues — A single call, text, or social media message in violation of a protective order can lead to new charges.

Beverly Hills police respond quickly to these calls and almost always make an arrest, even when the situation was minor or both parties were involved. Once prosecutors take the case, they tend to move forward regardless of whether the alleged victim wants to “drop” it later. A single argument, misunderstanding, or false accusation can put you in a criminal case with life-changing consequences.

Domestic Violence Charges We Defend in Beverly Hills

Domestic violence is not a single offense — it’s a category of charges that prosecutors can file based on the circumstances of an arrest. Some of the most common include:

Domestic Battery – Penal Code § 243(e)(1) PC

Any willful use of force or violence against an intimate partner. No visible injury is required. Even a shove or grab often triggers filing.

Corporal Injury to a Spouse or Cohabitant – Penal Code § 273.5 PC

Filed when prosecutors claim a “traumatic condition” resulted, such as bruising, redness, or swelling. This is one of the most serious domestic violence charges and can be filed as a felony.

Protective Order Violations – Penal Code § 273.6 PC

If a court issues a protective order, any contact — even an accidental text or call — can result in new criminal charges. These cases are aggressively prosecuted in Beverly Hills.

Related Charges

Domestic violence arrests are often filed alongside additional charges, including:

• Criminal threats (Penal Code § 422)

• Vandalism (Penal Code § 594)

• Interfering with a 911 call (Penal Code § 591.5)

• Child endangerment (Penal Code § 273a)

• Stalking (Penal Code § 646.9)

Many of these offenses are “wobblers,” meaning the prosecutor can file them as either misdemeanors or felonies. The decision depends on the alleged injuries, your criminal history, and how aggressively the case is charged.

What to Do Right After an Domestic Violence Arrest

The first 24–48 hours can determine the direction of your case. Acting without legal guidance — or failing to act at all — can make your situation worse.

• Avoid contact with the alleged victim. Any call, text, or message can trigger a new criminal charge if a protective order is in place.

• Do not talk about the incident. Jail calls, texts, and social media posts are monitored and frequently handed to prosecutors.

• Preserve evidence. Photos of injuries (yours and theirs), saved texts, call logs, and witness names may be vital to your defense.

• Comply with firearm orders. If a protective order requires surrendering firearms, do so immediately. Keeping them can lead to separate charges.

• Understand where your case is filed. Beverly Hills domestic violence cases are typically sent to the Airport Courthouse (LAX), where bail, no-contact orders, and first hearings are handled quickly.

Early legal representation is the only way to influence bail decisions, challenge protective orders, and begin building a defense before prosecutors strengthen their case.

Restraining Orders in Domestic Violence Cases

Courts often issue protective orders at the first hearing—sometimes the same day as arrest. Orders can require you to leave the home, restrict contact with your partner or children, and surrender firearms within 24 hours. We ask the court to limit unnecessary restrictions, seek “peaceful contact” when appropriate, and contest any terms that go beyond what the case facts support. Violations can lead to new charges, so getting the order right at arraignment matters.

The Lasting Impact of a Domestic Violence Conviction

A domestic violence case is never just about one night or one argument. A conviction can create long-term consequences that affect nearly every part of your life:

• Custody and family rights. Family court judges can restrict or deny custody and visitation if there’s a domestic violence finding.

• Protective orders. Stay-away or no-contact orders can force you out of your home and cut off access to your children.

• Jail or prison time. Misdemeanor convictions can mean up to a year in county jail, while felony cases can lead to years in state prison.

• Mandatory programs. Probation requires completion of a 52-week batterer’s intervention program.

• Firearm restrictions. Both state and federal law impose lifetime firearm bans for domestic violence convictions.

• Immigration consequences. Non-citizens risk deportation or denial of status.

• Professional fallout. Licensed professionals, business owners, and those in high-profile or sensitive positions often face career-ending damage to their reputation.

Even a first conviction brings mandatory terms and collateral consequences. Acting quickly with an experienced Beverly Hills domestic violence lawyer gives you the best chance to protect your freedom, your family, and your future.

How Our Beverly Hills Domestic Violence Lawyer Can Help

Domestic violence cases in Beverly Hills often move fast. Police reports, 911 recordings, photos, and body-worn camera footage are usually in the hands of prosecutors within days — sometimes within hours. But speed does not equal strength. Much of this evidence is flawed, incomplete, or taken out of context. A skilled defense lawyer knows how to expose these weaknesses and shift the balance back in your favor.

Here’s how our firm builds your defense:

• Challenging police conduct — Domestic calls often escalate quickly, and officers may rush to make an arrest without following proper procedures. We examine how they entered the home, whether they had legal authority, and how they questioned you. Any violation of your rights can result in evidence being thrown out.

• Attacking weak or inconsistent evidence — Many reports are written in the heat of the moment, based on conflicting statements or assumptions. We carefully review the record for gaps, errors, or contradictions that undermine the prosecution’s case.

• Presenting self-defense or mutual combat — Not every dispute is one-sided. If you acted to protect yourself, or if both parties contributed to the altercation, the state’s narrative falls apart. We bring forward the facts that show the full story.

• Exposing unreliable testimony — Alleged victims sometimes recant, change their accounts, or exaggerate details. We highlight these issues through cross-examination and evidence, showing the court why their testimony should not be trusted.

• Protective-order strategy — We move to narrow or modify criminal protective orders (including “peaceful contact” when appropriate) and contest overbroad terms that disrupt work and family.

• Evidence preservation & subpoenas — We act fast to secure doorbell/indoor video, 911 audio, body-cam, and medical records, and issue subpoenas where needed before evidence disappears.

• Negotiating for alternatives — When dismissal isn’t possible, we push aggressively for reduced charges, diversion programs, or outcomes that avoid mandatory domestic violence penalties and preserve your future.

• Pre-filing intervention — In some cases, we can step in before charges are even filed. By presenting evidence early, we may persuade prosecutors to reject or downgrade the case.

Every step is about controlling the narrative before it hardens against you. The sooner we are involved, the more options you have — from protecting your record and career to keeping your family relationships intact.

Speak With a Beverly Hills Domestic Violence Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been accused of domestic violence in Beverly Hills, do not wait and hope the situation will resolve on its own. A Beverly Hills domestic violence lawyer can intervene early to protect your rights, influence bail decisions, and begin challenging the evidence before prosecutors lock in their case.

At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, every case is personally reviewed and prepared with more than 20 years of criminal defense experience. Attorney Arash Hashemi takes the time to listen to your side of the story, examine the evidence, and build a strategy designed to challenge the prosecution from the very start.

Contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Beverly Hills domestic violence lawyer. The sooner you act, the more options we have to protect your rights, your reputation, and your freedom.

The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi
11845 W Olympic Blvd #520
Los Angeles, CA 90064
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