Alice was already struggling.
She was six months into a contentious divorce. Her ex was pushing for primary custody. Her anxiety had flared up since the separation, and the pressure of balancing work, legal deadlines, and limited access to her children was becoming unbearable.
Then one night, after a few glasses of wine at a friend’s house, Alice made a mistake.
She drove home. She got pulled over. And she got arrested for DWI.
For many clients, that would have been the end of their custody case. But for us, it was just the start of a new plan.
The Truth About Alice
Was she a perfect mother? No. What parent is truly perfect?
Had she made bad choices? Yes.
But did she love her kids? Absolutely.
We do not sugarcoat facts at Anderson Legal Group. Alice had been inconsistent with exchanges. There were missed pickups. Emotional texts. A few decisions that gave her ex real ammunition in court. But underneath it all, she was a mother trying to stay afloat in the middle of a storm she did not see coming.
Mental health played a role. Like many of our clients, Alice was not malicious—she was overwhelmed, untreated, and unraveling under the weight of divorce.
What We Did First
Step one: Get control of the criminal matter.
We immediately referred Alice to a trusted criminal defense attorney in our network. They moved quickly to protect her rights—requesting dash cam footage, reviewing the breathalyzer results, and examining the stop for errors. A bond was set. She complied with all release terms. No delays. No excuses.
At the same time, we got to work on the family side.
Protecting Visitation and Custody
A DWI arrest in the middle of a custody case is a landmine. Opposing counsel will argue it proves instability. They may try to limit visitation, request supervised access, or push to strip rights altogether.
We were not going to let that happen.
We collected proof that Alice had no prior criminal history. We helped her begin counseling immediately—both for alcohol use and for anxiety management. She committed to sobriety monitoring.
Most importantly, she showed up. To Court. To therapy. To parenting.
We worked with the Court to build a record of improvement. The Judge saw not just a mom who had made a mistake—but a mom who was taking it seriously.
Our Strategy
We do not run from problems. We get in front of them.
Our approach included:
- A parallel defense strategy in the criminal case to avoid a conviction or minimize penalties
- Court-approved mental health counseling to show proactive change
- A detailed parenting plan that allowed Alice to maintain consistent access while proving reliability
- Character references and declarations to refocus the case on her love for her children, not just one night’s mistake
The Result
Alice’s criminal matter was resolved without a conviction. She kept her record clean.
In Family Court, we negotiated a custody schedule that allowed her to maintain meaningful time with her children, with built-in check-ins to reassure the Court and the opposing party.
Today, Alice is sober. Still in therapy. And still raising her children.
What This Means for You
If you are in the middle of a divorce and something goes wrong—especially a criminal issue—you need legal strategy immediately. Not panic. Not shame. A plan.
At Anderson Legal Group, we work to contain the damage, shift the narrative, and preserve your role as a parent. We do not judge our clients. We guide them.
Your mistake does not have to define you. But how you respond will.
Conclusion
Alice could have lost everything. But she did not—because she got help, followed the plan, and fought for her children the right way.
If you are facing a divorce, criminal charge, or both, call us. We will meet you where you are—and help you protect what matters most.