A routine traffic stop can quickly escalate into a criminal defense scenario if law enforcement officers suspect drug activity. In many drug possession or trafficking cases, an initial encounter begins with a minor traffic violation—like a broken taillight or failure...
Family and Criminal Law Blog
Navarrete & Schwartz Legal Blog
What are the penalties for a first Texas DWI conviction?
If police officers suspect someone of intoxication, they may stop their vehicle. Police officers may then ask questions and conduct tests to affirm their suspicions. Those arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges may spend a night or more in jail just...
3 ways the courts can help those dealing with domestic violence
Domestic violence is a relatively common issue. Many people who experience domestic violence from a romantic partner or spouse never speak publicly about the matter or involve law enforcement. However, many people do eventually leave situations that put them and their...
5 of the most common and effective defense strategies
Individuals facing criminal charges in Texas essentially have two options. They can plead guilty or they can take the case to trial. The decision to go to trial requires establishing a defense strategy. The defendant and their attorney must convince the courts that...
What happens to marital property during a Texas divorce?
Most people contemplating divorce in Texas have a lot of questions about the process. They aren't familiar with state law and may worry about the potential outcome of divorce proceedings. They may seek information from the wrong types of sources. Perhaps a coworker...
3 important issues that can affect spousal maintenance in Texas
Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support, is one of the most challenging financial issues spouses may need to address when they divorce. In some marriages, spouses have vastly different economic circumstances. One spouse has more property than the...
Search and seizure issues in a routine traffic stop
When Texas motorists are pulled over by law enforcement, the Fourth Amendment protects them against unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that police officers cannot search their vehicles unless they have sound reasons. When the actions of police officers are...
Here’s what can happen with a first-time DWI conviction
In Texas, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DWI) can drivers and others on the road in danger, and they can wind up in jail. Drivers under age 21 are not allowed to drive with any trace of alcohol in their system. Legally intoxicated It is...
Using self-defense in a family dispute case in Texas
If you have lived with someone or are simply in a relationship, you know that arguments sometimes begin over some of the most trivial things you'll probably forget about in two days. The only thing you can do in such situations is to prevent it from causing a rift or...
The benefits of establishing paternity
Men in Texas who believe they have fathered a child may have questions. Whether or not there is any doubt in their minds if there is a biological relationship can matter. These are the ways paternity is established and the benefits of doing so. Establishing paternity...