A restraining order is usually a civil law matter. But violating the terms of a restraining order issued against you can lead to your arrest and a possible jail sentence. Because a restraining order is a judicial order, violating it is a crime. The person who...

You have surely heard of Miranda rights. They are often included for dramatic effect in arrest scenes in movies and television shows involving police or criminal activity. But what do you actually know about your Miranda rights? Do you know how they can aid you in...

When people think of kidnapping, they usually think of a child snatched away from family by a stranger, often through force or intimidation. However, parental kidnapping is different. Parental kidnapping occurs when one parent takes the child without the knowledge and...

Many people in California may look at claims of self-defense by individuals facing criminal charges with a certain degree of scrutiny. This no doubt comes from the assumption that an altercation must have two willing participants. Yet at the same time, most people...

Disputes are not uncommon in intimate relationships. You and your partner may quarrel over finances, infidelity or a wide range of other matters. If certain actions are taken against an intimate partner, however, they may be considered domestic violence. Criminal...

Like many Californians, you have gone through a divorce and settled on a custody agreement. It is important to understand the exact terms of your custody order and comply with them. Your child's co-parent may use any missteps as leverage to a judge into reworking your...

Whether exaggerated or fabricated, many “dumb law” lists that circulate online are highly entertaining but, sadly, short on fact. However, it is true that there are some rather unusual laws still on the books. From old statutes made for a different time to modern city...

State and federal laws define parental abduction as a non-custodial parent’s refusal to return a child after a lawful visit. Parental kidnapping is illegal in every state, and the abductor is usually prosecuted in state court. However, if a child abduction case...

Being a successful medical professional is a complicated endeavor nowadays. Not only must physicians have subject matter expertise, but they must also comply with an ever-changing framework of laws, regulations and rules. Like anyone else, doctors may face criminal...

Under the Three Strikes law in California, offenders convicted of a second felony after a previous violent or serious felony conviction can receive twice the mandatory minimum prison sentence. A person who receives a third felony conviction must serve at least 25...