Wilmington Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with a domestic violence offense in Wilmington, New Hanover County, or Pender County, you can defend yourself, and you do not have to do it alone. These cases move fast and are handled discreetly, so the first days matter. Charges like assault on a female and communicating threats, and 50B protective orders, all carry consequences that can follow you for years. Merritt Wagoner has guided people through these exact charges in North Carolina courts for more than 21 years, and he can tell you plainly where you stand and what to do next.
What these charges mean in North Carolina
In North Carolina, domestic violence is not one charge. It is a group of charges and court orders that involve someone you have a personal relationship with, like a spouse, a partner, a family member, or someone you live with. The most common ones are assault on a female, which is a misdemeanor that can only be charged against a man, and communicating threats, which involves a threat that a reasonable person would take seriously.
A 50B domestic violence protective order is different. It is a civil court order, not a criminal charge, but it runs alongside the criminal case and moves quickly. A judge can enter a temporary order within days, sometimes before you have even spoken to a lawyer. Once it is in place, it can keep you out of your own home, away from your children, and away from the other person.
These cases often start with a single phone call to the police and a story told by one side. What gets written down in those first hours can shape everything that comes next. That is why getting clear, honest guidance early matters so much.
What is at stake
A domestic violence charge reaches past the courtroom. Even before any conviction, a protective order or a no-contact condition can separate you from your home and your family while the case is pending. That alone can upend your daily life.
A conviction can carry consequences that last well beyond the sentence. Penalties depend on the specific charge, your record, and the facts, but a domestic violence conviction can affect your right to own a firearm, your job, your housing, and how you are seen by the people around you. Some of these effects do not go away when the case ends.
Because so much rides on the outcome, and because these cases are sensitive, discretion matters. Merritt handles domestic violence matters carefully and privately, from the first call forward. Your story stays between you and your attorney.
How Merritt guides you through it
You do not need to understand how any of this works before you reach out. That is Merritt's job. When you call, he listens to what happened, explains the charge in plain language, and tells you what the next few days look like, including what to do and what to avoid doing right now.
From there, he looks closely at how the case was built. He reviews the report, the timeline, and the evidence, and he pays attention to whether a protective order hearing is coming up fast, because those deadlines do not wait. He keeps you informed at every step, so you are never guessing about your own case.
Merritt practices in state court in New Hanover County and Pender County, where these cases are heard. He stands in front of the same judges most weeks of the year. When he tells you how a case like yours tends to go in those rooms, he is speaking from real experience in the courts where yours will actually be decided.
What this means for you
These cases move fast
A 50B protective order can be entered within days, sometimes before you have spoken to a lawyer. Early guidance protects your options.
Handled discreetly
Domestic charges are sensitive. Merritt handles them privately and carefully, from your very first call.
Consequences can last for years
A conviction can affect your firearm rights, your job, your housing, and your family long after the case ends.
Two parts, one problem
The criminal charge and any 50B order are connected. Merritt treats them as the single situation they really are.
Questions people ask before they call
I was just served with a 50B protective order. What should I do?
What is assault on a female, and why was I charged with it?
Can a domestic violence charge be dropped if the other person does not want to pursue it?
Will a domestic violence conviction affect my right to own a gun?
Do I have to move out of my home because of the charge?
How private is this? I do not want people to know.
What happens when I call after hours?
The sooner Merritt is involved, the more he can do.
In a criminal case, time works against you. Reach out today by phone, text, or by booking a consultation.
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