What Can a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Westfield, IN Do for You?
A criminal charge in Westfield does not wait for you to figure out your next move. From the beginning, the State begins working to prove its case. At Summerfield-Dandurand Law Group, LLP, Founders of Custom Law, we represent people facing criminal charges throughout Hamilton County, and we start evaluating the case from the moment we get involved.
Our founding attorneys both worked as prosecutors in Hamilton County before moving to the defense side. They understand how prosecutors evaluate evidence, build arguments, and decide which cases are worth pursuing.
Indiana law covers a range of criminal charges that carry real consequences even at the misdemeanor level. A criminal conviction can affect employment opportunities, housing applications, professional licensing, and other areas of your life long after the case ends. The charge is where the damage starts. We’re here to fight it.
We serve clients across Hamilton County, including Westfield, Carmel, and Fishers. Our office is based in Noblesville, the county seat, where most Westfield criminal cases are filed and heard. We know these courts. We know how cases move through Hamilton County Superior Court and where the prosecution’s case can be challenged most effectively.
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Westfield, the right time to get a defense attorney involved is now. The earlier your defense begins, the more opportunity there is to review evidence, identify issues, and protect your options.
How We Can Help With Your Criminal Defense Case
The criminal process gives the state significant resources from the beginning. Understanding how prosecutors build cases is the first step toward building an effective defense.
The arrest shows up online before the case ever reaches a courtroom. Your employer may find it. The charge itself can create consequences before a court reaches a final decision. That’s the part most people don’t see coming: the damage runs ahead of the legal process, not behind it.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office doesn’t pause. From day one, they’re gathering evidence, locking in witness accounts, and building arguments. An unchallenged police report becomes the foundation of their case. A bad stop, a sloppy search, or an officer who shaded the report can look a lot stronger if nobody calls it out early.
At Custom Law, we look at how the charge was built. We start with the stop, the search, and the arrest itself. We pull the police reports, the body camera footage, and every piece of evidence the prosecution is relying on. We identify what it can prove and what it can’t. Then we build a defense that makes the State prove every point. That’s not a promise of any specific outcome. It’s how we work on every case.
Why Westfield Residents Trust Custom Law With Their Defense
A criminal defense attorney in Westfield, IN needs to bring more than general experience to your case. The attorney needs to know this system, specifically, how Hamilton County prosecutors build cases and where those cases can be taken apart. Here’s what Custom Law brings to that fight.
Both Founding Attorneys Prosecuted in Hamilton County
Robert Summerfield and Nicholas Dandurand both held prosecutor roles in Hamilton County before founding Custom Law. They sat on the other side of the table. They’ve seen how charges get built, what evidence prosecutors rely on, and what corners sometimes get cut. That direct experience shapes how we approach every case from the first review to the final resolution.
Most defense attorneys only know one side of a criminal case. Our founding attorneys have worked both sides in Hamilton County courts specifically, and that dual perspective is something most firms in the area can’t match.
Your Case Gets Treated Like It’s Going to Trial
We prepare every case for trial from day one, regardless of how we expect it to resolve. That’s not a posture. It’s how the work gets done. When the prosecution knows a defense is ready to go to court, it changes what they put on the table before trial ever becomes necessary. That preparation is the pressure that supports better outcomes.
From a first-time misdemeanor to more serious charges, every matter gets the same level of attention. Indiana doesn’t treat misdemeanor convictions as minor, and neither do we.
Over a Decade on Both Sides of Indiana’s Courtrooms
Our attorneys have handled criminal matters as both prosecutors and defense attorneys across Hamilton and Madison County courts since 2008. That courtroom experience covers how judges run proceedings, how local prosecutors approach cases, and what actually moves the needle in Hamilton County Superior Court.
That’s not secondhand knowledge from CLEs or textbooks. It’s direct experience in the same courts where your case will be decided.
A Record That Goes Beyond Criminal Defense
Custom Law’s founding attorneys have handled criminal defense alongside litigation, e-discovery, real estate, and gun rights matters. One of our attorneys is a registered domestic relations mediator with Indiana courts and spent years managing some of the largest document review projects in the country at a major national law firm before moving to the defense side.
That breadth of legal experience is relevant when a criminal case intersects with other legal issues, whether that’s a charge that affects a professional license, a domestic matter that runs alongside a criminal proceeding, or a case with complex evidentiary questions.
The Courts That Handle Your Case Are Our Home Courts
Custom Law is based in Noblesville, the Hamilton County seat. That’s where your case gets filed, where motions get argued, and where a Hamilton County Superior Court judge or jury decides what happens to you. We don’t drive in from another county to handle your matter. We practice here every day.
That familiarity matters. We know the local procedures, how the court’s docket runs, and what to expect from the prosecutors who handle Hamilton County cases. For Westfield residents facing charges, that’s not a geographic coincidence. It’s a concrete advantage.
How a Criminal Case Moves Through Hamilton County Courts
Knowing what comes next in your case helps you make better decisions at every stage. Here’s what the process looks like when Custom Law takes on a criminal defense matter in Westfield.
Step 1: Case Review and Initial Consultation
We start by getting the full picture. You tell us what happened: the stop, the search, the arrest, and the charges. We listen without judgment and without cutting you off. Total honesty with us is the one thing that’s required, because everything we build depends on knowing exactly what we’re working with.
Your attorney reviews whether police followed proper procedures, whether your constitutional rights were protected, whether evidence can be challenged, and what defenses may apply. By the end of the first meeting, you’ll have a straight answer about where things stand.
Step 2: Evidence Review
Once we take your case, we pull everything the prosecution has: police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, lab results, and any other records tied to the Hamilton County charge. Every document gets read closely.
Gaps, errors, and procedural missteps matter here. A stop without proper justification, a search that went further than a warrant allowed, or an officer’s account that doesn’t match the footage can all change the shape of a case. We look for every one of those points.
Step 3: Defense Strategy
Once the evidence is reviewed, you get a straight answer about your options. We walk you through what the charge carries under Indiana law, whether the stop or search can be challenged, what a negotiated resolution might look like versus going to trial, and what outcomes are realistic based on your specific facts.
No spin. No promises about results. Just a clear-eyed read on where you stand and what the paths forward actually look like.
Step 4: Pre-Trial Proceedings
Most criminal cases in Hamilton County move through hearings and negotiations before any trial happens. We file motions to suppress evidence where your rights were violated. We challenge the prosecution’s case at every point where it’s challengeable.
If the prosecution offers a deal, we explain exactly what it means in plain terms, including what it means for your record long-term. Nothing gets agreed to without your input and a full understanding of what you’re agreeing to.
Step 5: Trial or Resolution
Some cases resolve through a negotiated agreement. Others go to trial before a Hamilton County Superior Court judge or jury. Either way, Custom Law prepares your case for trial from day one, and that preparation doesn’t change based on how we expect things to resolve.
If your case goes to court, we cross-examine witnesses, challenge the State’s evidence, and press the prosecution to prove every point. If a negotiated resolution fits your goals better, we pursue that just as hard.
Get Clear Answers About Your Criminal Defense Options
The State has a head start the moment charges are filed. Every day that passes without a defense is a day the prosecution’s case gets stronger and your options narrow. That’s the reality of how criminal cases work in Hamilton County, and it’s why getting a defense attorney involved early makes a real difference.
Custom Law serves clients throughout Hamilton County, including Westfield, Carmel, and Fishers. We know these courts. We know how the State builds its cases here. And we know where those cases break down.
Contact us to request a case review and get a straight answer about where you stand and what we can do. That’s how Custom Law works: relentless preparation, honest assessment, and a fight for every inch of your case.
FAQs
What if I Already Spoke to the Police Before Hiring a Defense Attorney?
Statements made to police can be used against you in a Hamilton County court. But getting legal help now is still worth doing. An attorney can review what was said, look for context that limits its impact, and build a defense around the full record, not just that one conversation.
How Much Does a Criminal Defense Attorney in Westfield, IN Cost?
Attorney fees depend on the charge, the complexity of your case, and how far it goes in the Hamilton County court process. Custom Law can talk through fee structures with you during a case review so you know what to expect before you commit to anything.
Can a Misdemeanor Conviction Be Expunged From My Record in Indiana?
Indiana law allows expungement of certain misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period has passed and eligibility requirements are met. An attorney can tell you whether your specific charge qualifies and when you may be able to apply.
What Happens if I Miss My Court Date in Hamilton County?
A missed court date in Hamilton County may result in a warrant for your arrest or other court consequences. Contact an attorney right away to address the missed date. The sooner you act, the more options you have.
Does It Matter That Custom Law Is Based in Noblesville and Not Westfield?
Noblesville is the Hamilton County seat, which is where most Westfield criminal cases are filed and heard in Hamilton County Superior Court. We handle cases throughout the county. Our location in Noblesville puts us closer to the courts where your case will be decided, not further.