Top Washington, DC Statutory Rape Lawyers Near You

Consent Is Not a Defense to Statutory Rape

Statutory rape is generally defined as sexual intercourse by an adult with a person below a statutorily designated age. Under the law, the underage person is incapable of consenting to sex so you could be convicted of statutory rape even if the underage person consented to the sexual contact and you did not force the person.

Have You Been Charged With Statutory Rape?

Statutory rape is a serious crime and in most states it is considered a felony, which means, if you are convicted, you could be facing serious punishment including jail. There are legal defenses to the charge, however, so don’t delay, contact a Washington statutory rape defense attorney to help you with your case.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

• How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
• How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
• What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer

• What is the usual process to resolve my case? How long will it take to resolve this?
• What are likely outcomes of a case like mine? What should I expect?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic “road map” on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, he/she should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

Does firm size matter?

For most consumer legal issues, the size of the practice is much less important than the experience, competence, and reputation of the attorney(s) handling your case. Among the most important factors when choosing an attorney are your comfort level with the attorney or practice and the attorney’s track record in bringing about quick, successful resolutions to cases similar to yours.

Common legal terms explained

Affidavit – A sworn written statement made under oath. An affidavit is meant to be a supporting document to the court assisting in the verification of certain facts. An affidavit may or may not require notarization.