Top Columbia, MD Child Pornography Lawyers Near You

Have You Been Accused of Child Pornography?

If you have been accused of possessing or distributing child pornography, a skilled attorney can be crucial to the defense of your case. Penalties for possessing and/or distribution child pornography are steep and carry fines and prison sentences. Before taking other action, by contacting a Columbia attorney, you can potentially minimize any further risk to you.

What Constitutes Child Pornography

Viewing, possessing, distributing or creating child pornography is illegal under both state and federal law. Child pornography is anything that depicts a person under 18 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Child pornography can include pictures, videos and online content.

Best Time to Seek Legal Help

No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.

Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation

• Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
• Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
• Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
• Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

In general, how much an attorney costs will often depend on these four factors: billing method and pricing structure, type of legal work performed, law firm prestige, and attorney experience. Depending on the legal issue you are facing, an attorney may bill you by the hour, settle on a flat fee, or enter into a contingency fee agreement. The type of legal work you need help with will also play a role in cost incurred.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.