Paulding County DUI Attorney

If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI in Paulding County, you need an experienced attorney. Our Paulding County DUI Lawyers have over 50 combined years of experience with thousands of clients represented. We are able to achieve excellent outcomes for our clients because of our decades of experience and dedication to our clients. Our office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your call. Contact us now and speak with one of our DUI Lawyers in Paulding County.

DUI Process in Paulding County

Being arrested for a DUI is a frightening experience. What happens from here? Will I lose my job? How will this impact my family? These are just some of the questions our clients frequently ask us. Having an understanding of the criminal process can help ease some of the confusion you may be feeling. We have included some of the standard steps in a DUI case but calling one of our Paulding County DUI Lawyers is the best way to have your questions answered.

• Arrest: A DUI arrest is typically made when the alleged crime is committed or shortly after.
• Arraignment. This will be your first court appearance. However, if one of our Paulding County DUI Attorneys is representing you, they will appear on your behalf. They will enter an initial plea of “not guilty.” 
• Discovery. The prosecution and defense exchange information and evidence regarding your case during this step. 
• Plea Negotiations. A plea agreement is where you plead guilty in exchange for reduced charges or a possible recommended sentence. One of our DUI Lawyers in Paulding County may negotiate on your behalf if a plea agreement is the best possible outcome for your case. 
• Trial. If your case cannot be resolved through negotiations, it will then be bound over to Paulding County Superior Court. You can choose to have a jury trial or bench trial.

An Arrest Does Not Mean a Conviction  

The Law Office of Richard Lawson is different from many other law firms you may have come across in your search for the best DUI lawyer in Paulding County to represent you in your DUI case. All of the cases handled by our firm are in the area of DUI Law. Our firm is only one of a few firms in the state of Georgia that specializes in DUI defense.

The Paulding County DUI Attorneys with The Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson are committed to defending those accused of committing a crime. If you do not stand up for your rights, no one will; especially the government. A DUI conviction can be devastating to you financially, emotionally, and even socially. However, as we just said, an arrest is not a conviction. If you fight your case, it may not ever turn into conviction, either.

A Georgia DUI case is different from other crimes; as it involves complex and ever-changing Georgia DUI laws, scientific testing of breath and blood, and standard field sobriety testing. There are no DUI lawyers in the state of Georgia that had the unique set of skills and training that is possessed by the Paulding County DUI Lawyers at our office. These skills are crucial for your DUI Attorney in Paulding County to be able to defend your DUI case effectively.

Paulding County Courts

Paulding County has multiple courts and it can be confusing as to where your case will be heard and what happens next. Your case can proceed in a Paulding County Court if you were pulled over by a municipal court officer, a Georgia State Patrol officer, or a Paulding County police officer.  No matter where your case started, our Paulding County DUI Lawyers are here to help. We have been defending people charged with DUI in Paulding for decades and understand the unspoken rules that coincide with each court. 

Paulding County Municipal Courts

In most cities in Paulding County, if you are pulled over by a municipal court officer, your case will proceed to that city's municipal court. Municipal courts are able to hear cases involving traffic offenses, city ordinance violations, and misdemeanors. Municipal courts are unable to hold jury trials, therefore, you must request to have your case transferred to Paulding County State Court if you desire a jury trial.

Paulding County State Court

If your arrest occurred in an unincorporated part of Paulding County, your case will proceed to Paulding County State Court. Paulding County State Court is located at 240 Constitution Blvd, Dallas, GA 30132. Angela O-Conner is the Probate Judge, and the Court can be reached at 678-981-4380. Additionally, if you request a jury trial from a Municipal Court, your case will be bound over to Paulding County State Court.

Paulding County Superior Court

Paulding County Superior Court handles cases that include a felony offense. DUIs can be charged as a felony if it is a fourth DUI within ten years (all convictions since 2008), if serious injury or death resulted, or if this is a third habitual violator offense within five years. Paulding County Superior Court is located at 280 Constitution Boulevard, Dallas, GA 30132. Shelia Butler is the Clerk of Superior Court and can be reached at 770-443-7527. 

Contact Us

Distinct from criminal defense, drunk driving defense is unique and requires extensive knowledge of common procedures such as DUI stops, breath and blood testing, regulations for administering sobriety tests and much more. Our Paulding County DUI Lawyers have more than 25 years of experience in the field of DUI defense and can use this to help with your case.