Author Archives: Brent D. Ratchford

Facing criminal charges is often a difficult and stressful reality. Navigating the legal system on your own is overwhelming and often futile. DUI charges can be particularly difficult because they carry such heavy penalties at every…

While people struggling financially might not wish to file for bankruptcy, the proceedings could provide a viable pathway out of a challenging fiscal situation. Bankruptcy proceedings occur in federal court, so any North Carolina resident who…

If you have been arrested and charged with DWI, you may start feeling overwhelmed. One thing that you may want to consider is challenging the breath test results. Some of the most common ways to do…

Those accused of domestic violence in Gaston County, North Carolina, may be eligible for bail. The possibility of bail depends on several factors that a judge will have to consider. Domestic violence bail process A defendant…

When a police officer pulls you over on suspicion of driving under the influence in North Carolina, they will likely ask you to take a field sobriety test to determine whether or not you are impaired.…

Voluntary manslaughter is a serious felony charge in North Carolina. While it is not as serious as a murder charge, it has a longer potential sentence than a charge for involuntary manslaughter. A person who is…

A charge of wire fraud could change the life of a North Carolina resident. It’s a white-collar crime that is considered very seriously and carries significant penalties. What is wire fraud? Wire fraud is a serious federal…

North Carolina deems assault and battery as serious criminal charges. It’s important to know the laws surrounding the offense. How is simple assault and battery classified? North Carolina categorizes some assault and battery charges as misdemeanors. These offenses include…

Every state has controlled substance laws to regulate certain drugs because of the potential danger. North Carolina drug laws are tougher than other states, even for the first offense. A person charged with a drug crime…

Persons placed on a sex offender registry might find their inclusion on the list impacts their lives for years after completing a prison sentence, parole, or probation. Court challenges have led to people getting their names…