Thank You for Scheduling Your Phone Appointment

Your appointment with Keenan Parsons Law has been confirmed. You should receive a calendar invitation and confirmation email shortly.

Prefer to watch? The video above covers everything on this page—case timelines, how to prepare, rules while your case is pending, and key legal terms explained.

Please note: Court obligations occasionally arise unexpectedly and may require us to reschedule. If this happens, we will contact you as soon as possible to find a new time.

What to Expect: The Timeline

Criminal cases take time to resolve—often several months, sometimes longer. This is normal and frequently works in your favor. Whether your case is in Paulding County State Court, Paulding County Superior Court, Hiram Municipal Court, or Dallas Municipal Court, the process follows a similar timeline.

After our initial phone appointment, one of the first steps is obtaining discovery—the evidence the State intends to use against you. This process typically takes one to two months. Until we have reviewed all the evidence, we cannot fully evaluate your options or make informed recommendations about how to proceed.

Patience during this phase is important. Rushing to resolve a case before understanding the evidence can mean missing opportunities to challenge the State's case or negotiate a better outcome.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Write down any questions or concerns you want to discuss

Gather contact information for potential witnesses

Prepare any documents you would like to review and email them to keenan@keenanparsonslaw.com

A reminder: Avoid discussing the details of your case with friends, family, or on social media. Anything you say to others can potentially be used against you.

While Your Case Is Pending

Follow all bond conditions. This includes any no-contact orders, curfews, drug testing requirements, or travel restrictions. Violating bond conditions can result in your arrest and make your case significantly harder to resolve favorably.

Appear at every court date. Missing a court appearance will result in a bench warrant for your arrest and can seriously damage your case. If you are unsure when your next court date is, contact our office.

Avoid any new arrests. A new charge while your case is pending complicates everything—it can affect your bond, limit your options for resolution, and influence how prosecutors and judges view your case.

Keep Your Contact Information Current

If your phone number, address, or email changes, notify our office immediately at keenan@keenanparsonslaw.com.

Missed calls, letters, or emails can lead to missed court dates and other serious problems. Keeping your information current ensures we can reach you with important updates about your case.

Key Terms in Criminal Defense Cases

Arraignment

Your first formal court appearance, where the charges against you are read and you enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest). This is typically when bond conditions are set or reviewed.

Bond / Bail

Money or conditions set by the court to ensure you appear at future court dates. Bond may include restrictions like no contact with certain individuals, drug testing, or travel limitations.

Discovery

The process where the prosecution must share evidence with the defense. This includes police reports, witness statements, videos, test results, and any other materials relevant to your case.

Indictment / Accusation

Formal charging documents that initiate prosecution. In Georgia, felony cases in Superior Court typically require an indictment issued by a grand jury. Misdemeanor cases in State Court proceed by accusation, a charging document filed by the prosecutor without grand jury involvement. Neither document is a finding of guilt—they simply authorize the case to move forward.

Solicitor / District Attorney

The prosecutors who represent the State of Georgia in criminal cases. The Solicitor General handles misdemeanor cases in State Court, while the District Attorney prosecutes felonies in Superior Court.

Plea

Your formal response to criminal charges. Options include guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere (no contest). We will discuss what plea makes sense for your situation during our phone appointment.

Motion

A formal request asking the court to make a specific ruling. Common motions include requests to suppress evidence, dismiss charges, or compel the state to provide discovery.

Motion to Suppress

A request asking the court to exclude certain evidence from trial—often because it was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights. For example, if police conducted an unlawful search or obtained a confession without proper warnings, a successful motion to suppress can prevent that evidence from being used against you.

Continuance

A postponement of a court date. Cases are often continued to allow time for investigation, negotiation, or preparation.

Disposition

The final outcome of your case—whether through dismissal, plea, or trial verdict.

Probation

A sentence served outside of jail under court supervision, with specific conditions you must follow. Violating these conditions can result in revocation and incarceration.

We look forward to speaking with you.

Keenan Parsons Law is a criminal defense law firm serving Paulding County, Georgia, including Dallas, Hiram, and surrounding communities. If you're facing criminal charges in Paulding County, we're here to help.