00:00Hi, welcome to our legal channel. Today,
00:03we're discussing a critical topic that affects many in Orange County,
00:07understanding and responding to a notice of complaint filed.
00:11If you've received one of these, it's crucial to know your next steps.
00:16A notice of complaint filed is a formal document from the Orange County district
00:21attorney's office.
00:22It signals the start of a legal proceeding against you.
00:25It's often sent if you've previously appeared in court and found no case
00:30filed against you.
00:32Although there have been times where it is sent before your
00:37first court date as well.
00:39The notice generally arrives about 45 to 60 days after your
00:44initial court date.
00:46This means that you showed up to court and there was no case on calendar and you
00:50went home. After that,
00:53they send you out another letter alerting you of your upcoming arraignments.
00:59Ignoring this letter can lead to serious consequences like the issuance of a
01:03bench warrants. It's important that you get this letter and show up to court.
01:08If you don't,
01:10then this can result in your arrest and an unfavorable outcome in your legal
01:15manner.
01:15It's vital to appear in court or have a criminal defense attorney represent you
01:20in court.
01:21So that way you do not have to go.
01:24It's important to have and consider legal representation during
01:29this time.
01:32And the criminal defense attorney can access and analyze your police report and
01:36represent you effectively.
01:38Legal support is often important in cases like DUIs,
01:43domestic violence, shoplifting,
01:47and hit and runs.
01:49Oftentimes when you appear on your court case on the first day,
01:54you'll notice that your case is not on calendar.
01:59What will happen next is that you'll be sent over to the orange County district
02:02attorney's office on it. You will get a piece of paper.
02:07The piece of paper will detail why your case isn't on the initial court
02:11calendar. There'll be three reasons.
02:14It may indicate that the district attorney has not received the paperwork from
02:19the agency yet. Number two was it's still under review or number three,
02:24the case got sent back for investigation.
02:27It also includes instruction on how to follow up on your case.
02:31These are things to consider.
02:34Other things to consider on your first court date is arraignment and bail
02:38conditions.
02:39Remember when you receive this paper, the notice marks your arraignment date.
02:44If it's a misdemeanor, you can enter a plea.
02:46Your attorney can obtain relevant case documents and prepare for your defense.
02:52In cases of second or third DUIs or domestic violence,
02:56there might be a custody or bail considerations.
03:01When this is the case, you will want to have a bail bondsman ready.
03:05The court will take you into custody or threaten to take you into custody with
03:10conditions. In a perfect world,
03:13your court case will be held on the day that you were cited. However,
03:16delays can occur due to various reasons, including administrative ones.
03:21The case starts with the police department and moves to the district attorney's
03:25office for review. It's essential to follow up regularly.
03:29If your case isn't filed immediately.
03:31Some of the reasons why it can be delayed is what we indicated above.
03:36It's still under review.
03:37Hasn't been in the office or someone has sent it back for further
03:41investigation. If it's sent back for further investigation,
03:45they do have to follow it by the statute of limitations. In misdemeanors,
03:49these are one year. For felonies, it's a little different.
03:53Delays can affect the case,
03:55especially if it stretches beyond the statute of limitations.
03:58If you received a notice of complaint filed, don't take it lightly.
04:02Consult with your criminal defense attorney to understand your charges and
04:05prepare for court. Remember,
04:07this notice is an early step in a potentially complex legal journey.
04:14If you're facing the situation, we're here to help.
04:17Don't navigate these waters alone. Contact us for legal assistance.
04:22If you have questions, leave a question in the comment below.
04:25If you're too shy to put your issues out there for the world to see,
04:29you can use the make an appointment button or give our office a call.
04:32Thank you for watching and remember to subscribe for more informative legal
04:36content. Stay informed, stay prepared.
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