Getting arrested isn’t the only way you can find yourself hit with criminal charges. Receiving a summons for a probable cause hearing in Massachusetts can also result in you being formally charged with a misdemeanor.

Few things in life are more terrifying than being charged with a felony. If you’re facing felony charges in Massachusetts, you likely have a lot of questions—and powerful emotions—to sort through.

It’s true that misdemeanor charges are considered less severe than felonies. At the same time, that doesn’t mean being arrested for a misdemeanor is an easy experience. The penalties and consequences can still impact every aspect of your life, both day-to-day and long-term.

That’s why the best thing you can do next is to hire a focused, intelligent Massachusetts criminal defense attorney. At Fogarty Law, our attorney Courtney K. Fogarty has spent more than 10 years winning favorable outcomes for clients facing misdemeanor charges.

When you’re facing criminal charges, the potential penalties can cast a long shadow over your life. In addition to serving a sentence, this blemish on your criminal record can impact you for years to come.

So, it’s no surprise that you might be considering a plea deal. This option often looks a lot more appealing than letting your case go to trial.

In your daily life, you probably don’t often wonder about the Massachusetts legal system. But that’s likely to change once you’re charged with any kind of crime.

It’s common to feel pressured to learn as much as you can about court proceedings and what to expect. But once you start researching, you might become overwhelmed by all the legal jargon and complex processes.

You could use quite a few words to describe what it’s like to face criminal charges. Stressful, overwhelming, and confusing sum up the experience for many people.

Suddenly, you have paperwork, court dates, and a slew of legal terms to keep track of—all while managing feelings of anxiety and fear.

When you’re charged with any kind of crime, it’s hard not to worry about the entire court process. The potential sentence and penalties hanging over you are certainly stressful.

But for many people, the idea of appearing in court is just as scary as being found guilty. And understanding each step of the legal system while you’re in this emotional state can be challenging.

Getting arrested is never a pleasant experience. Even in the best-case scenario, you’ve still got a long road ahead to prove your innocence.

And that road is littered with obstacles.

Court dates, hearings, motions, and mountains of paperwork will all need to be handled with focused caution. One mistake can result in hefty fees or fines, plus a litany of other consequences.