# Cohen & Patel Law Firm, PLLC > A Pottstown, Pennsylvania law firm representing individuals and families in criminal defense, DUI defense, family law, and immigration matters. The firm handles these areas together because a criminal charge can carry serious immigration and child custody consequences. Phone: (215) 585-2993. Office: 2047 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Website: https://cohenandpatellaw.com/ Attorney David J. Cohen is a former Philadelphia police officer and Army National Guard infantry soldier who has served as both a Special Assistant Public Defender and a District Attorney, giving him experience on both sides of a criminal case. He holds an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Beasley School of Law and is an MCAP pro bono attorney representing abused children. Attorney Helee M. Patel is an immigration attorney specializing in removal proceedings before the Federal Immigration Courts and family-based petitions before USCIS. Services are available in English, Spanish, Gujarati, and Hindi. The firm serves Montgomery, Berks, Chester, Bucks, Delaware, and Lehigh counties. ## Practice Areas - [Practice Areas Overview](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/lawyers-montgomery-county/): All areas of law handled by the firm. - [Criminal Defense](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-lawyer-pottstown/): Criminal defense across Pennsylvania's crime classifications, from summary offenses through first-, second-, and third-degree felonies, and the consequences a conviction carries for employment, housing, firearm rights, and professional licensing. - [DUI Defense](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/dui-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Pennsylvania's tiered blood alcohol concentration levels and penalties, breath and blood chemical testing, driving under the influence of drugs, and driver's license consequences. - [Family Law](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/family-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Divorce, child custody, child support, fathers' rights, property division, Protection from Abuse orders, and juvenile dependency. - [Immigration Law](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/immigration-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Family and employment immigration, green cards, citizenship, deportation defense, fiancé and nonimmigrant visas, TPS, U and T visas, and VAWA. Available in Pennsylvania and all 50 states. ## Criminal Defense - [Drug Crimes](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/drug-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Simple possession, possession with intent to deliver, and drug paraphernalia charges under the Controlled Substances, Drugs, Device, and Cosmetic Act. - [Intent to Distribute](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/intent-to-distribute-lawyer-montgomery-county/): What possession with intent to deliver (PWID) means in Pennsylvania, how the drug schedule affects penalties, and how the charge is defended by challenging possession, knowledge, intent, and the lawfulness of the search. - [Medical Marijuana](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/medical-marijuana-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, qualifying patients, purchase limits, permitted forms of consumption, transportation rules, and possession charges from alleged non-compliance. - [Gun Crimes](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/gun-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Concealed weapon charges, possession of a firearm during a burglary or robbery, and federal firearms crimes. - [Carrying a Firearm Without a License](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/gun-lawyer-montgomery-county/carrying-a-firearm-without-a-license/): Pennsylvania firearm licensing rules and the misdemeanor and felony grading of the offense. - [Prohibited Possession of a Firearm](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/gun-lawyer-montgomery-county/prohibited-possession-of-a-firearm/): Who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6105, the penalties on conviction, and available defenses. - [Assault](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/assault-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Pennsylvania assault crimes, how convictions are sentenced, and defenses including self-defense. - [Domestic Violence Defense](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/domestic-violence-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Defense against domestic violence charges, what qualifies as a domestic relationship under Pennsylvania law, Protection from Abuse orders, penalties, and defenses. - [Theft Crimes](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/theft-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Retail theft and shoplifting through higher-value property offenses, where grading depends on the value taken. - [Sex Crimes](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/sex-crime-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Pennsylvania sex offenses and the sex offender registration consequences of a conviction. - [Felony Crimes](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/felony-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Which offenses are felonies in Pennsylvania, the three degrees, and the penalties and long-term consequences. - [Misdemeanor Crimes](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/misdemeanor-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Which offenses are misdemeanors, the three degrees, and the penalties on conviction. - [Underage Drinking](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/underage-drinking-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Penalties for a first and subsequent offense, driver's license consequences even without a vehicle, the medical emergency reporting exception, and underage drinking and driving. - [Mistaken Identity](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/mistaken-identity-lawyer-montgomery-county/): How identification errors occur and how the defense is proven through alibi evidence, DNA, and expert testimony on eyewitness reliability. - [Indirect Criminal Contempt](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/indirect-criminal-contempt-lawyer-montgomery-county/): What indirect criminal contempt is, how it differs from direct contempt, what the prosecution must prove, and the penalties on conviction. - [Traffic Tickets](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/traffic-ticket-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Common citations, the points system, fighting a speeding ticket, license loss, and the consequences of failing to pay. - [ARD Program](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/ard-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a pre-trial diversionary program for first-time non-violent offenders that avoids a conviction and allows the record to be expunged on completion. - [Expungement](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/expungement-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Who qualifies for expungement in Pennsylvania, the petition process, and alternatives including record sealing and a governor's pardon. - [Criminal Defense FAQ](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-faq/): Answers on preliminary hearings and why they are not trials, firearm rights after a conviction or Protection from Abuse order, medical marijuana and employer privacy, and your right to remain silent when stopped by police. ## DUI Defense - [Drug DUI](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/drug-dui-lawyer-montgomery-county/): How drug impairment is detected, penalties on conviction, and defenses to the charge. - [Underage DUI](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/underage-dui-lawyer-montgomery-county/): The lower blood alcohol threshold for drivers under 21, penalties, license suspension, and ignition interlock. - [Chemical Test Refusals](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/chemical-testing-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Blood, breath, and urine testing, the consequences of refusal under Pennsylvania's implied consent law, and challenging test accuracy. - [Suspended Licenses](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/suspended-license-lawyer-montgomery-county/): DUI license suspensions, the Occupational Limited License, ignition interlock, suspension appeals, and reinstatement. - [ARD Program for DUI](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/ard-dui-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Enrollment and eligibility, program conditions including community service, and avoiding a DUI conviction. ## Family Law - [Divorce](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/divorce-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Fault and no-fault grounds, the two no-fault paths in Pennsylvania, the 90-day waiting period for a mutual consent divorce, obtaining a divorce without a spouse's consent under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 3301(d), and the six-month residency requirement before filing. - [Contested Divorce](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/contested-divorce-lawyer-montgomery-county/): The process when spouses cannot agree on alimony, property distribution, or other terms. - [Uncontested Divorce](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/uncontested-divorce-lawyer-montgomery-county/): What spouses must agree on, including property and asset division, alimony, and child custody and visitation. - [Mutual Divorce](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/mutual-divorce-lawyer-montgomery-county/): The difference between fault grounds and no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania and which route fits a given situation. - [Child Custody](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/child-custody-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Legal and physical custody, how courts decide under the best interests standard, custody disputes, parenting plans, orders, modifications, and relocation. - [Child Custody Violations](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/child-custody-lawyer-montgomery-county/child-custody-violations/): Contempt proceedings and penalties for violating a custody order, modifying an arrangement through the court, and why to avoid self-help. - [DUI or Drug Arrest & Child Custody](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/child-custody-lawyer-montgomery-county/dui-or-drug-arrest-child-custody/): How a family court evaluates a past arrest, a conviction, or a pending DUI or drug case in a custody matter. - [Child Support](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/child-support-lawyer-montgomery-county/): How support is calculated in Pennsylvania, enforcing an order when a parent fails to pay, and modifying support when circumstances change. - [Fathers' Rights](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/fathers-rights-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Seeking custody as a father under Pennsylvania law, which no longer presumes in favor of either parent, plus establishing and challenging paternity. - [Property Division](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/property-division-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Distinguishing marital from separate property, how Pennsylvania divides assets in a divorce, and protecting your assets. - [Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/pfa-lawyer-montgomery-county/): What a PFA order is, filing for one, and the consequences of violating an existing order. - [Juvenile Dependency](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/juvenile-dependency-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Children and Youth Services investigations, dependency proceedings, the court's placement options, and the Family Service Plan process for getting a child returned home. ## Immigration Law - [Family Immigration](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/family-immigration-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and family-sponsored preference categories. - [Employment Immigration](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/employment-immigration-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Work visas and employment-based permanent residency for employers and foreign national employees. - [Green Cards](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/green-card-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Eligibility through employment, family, or investment, and the two routes to permanent residency: consular processing abroad and adjustment of status within the United States. - [Citizenship & Naturalization](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/citizenship-naturalization-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Eligibility for U.S. citizenship, applying for naturalization, the process, and the benefits of citizenship. - [Deportation Defense](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/deportation-defense-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Common grounds for removal, defenses in removal proceedings, criminal immigration defense for non-citizens facing charges, and waivers of inadmissibility. - [Fiancé Visas (K-1)](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/fiance-visa-lawyer-near-you/): K-1 eligibility, required documentation, the application process, and the 90-day window to marry before applying for a green card. - [Nonimmigrant Visas](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/nonimmigrant-visa-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Types of nonimmigrant visas, determining eligibility, the Form DS-160 application and consular interview, and maintaining valid status. - [Temporary Protected Status (TPS)](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/tps-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Eligibility for nationals of designated countries, the benefits TPS confers, and the Form I-821 application process. - [U & T Visas](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/u-t-visa-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Relief for immigrant victims of serious crimes and of human trafficking who assist law enforcement, and the eligibility requirements for each. - [VAWA](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/vawa-lawyer-montgomery-county/): Self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act allowing an abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to seek status independently, with confidentiality protections. - [Immigration Law FAQ](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/immigration-law-faq/): Answers on what a green card is, USCIS, lawful permanent residence, conditional residence and Form I-751, why applications are denied, working while waiting with Form I-765, biometric screening, and marriage green card documentation. ## Locations - [Delaware County Criminal Defense Lawyer](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-lawyer-delaware-county/) - [Chester County Criminal Defense Lawyer](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-lawyer-chester-county/) - [Bucks County Criminal Defense Lawyer](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-lawyer-bucks-county/) - [Lehigh County Criminal Defense Lawyer](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-lawyer-lehigh-county/) - [Berks County Criminal Defense Lawyer](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/criminal-defense-lawyer-berks-county/) ## About the Firm - [Our Firm](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/montgomery-county-law-firm/): Firm overview and attorneys. - [David J. Cohen, Esq.](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/our-firm/david-cohen-esq/): Founding partner. Admitted in Pennsylvania in 2008. LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Beasley School of Law (2012) and recipient of the Edward D. Ohlbaum Award for Commitment to the Art of Trial Advocacy; J.D. from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School (2007); M.B.A. from Eastern University; B.S. from Delaware Valley College. Former Philadelphia police officer and six-year Army National Guard Mechanized Infantry soldier who has served as both a Special Assistant Public Defender and a District Attorney. Practice focuses on criminal defense and family law. - [Helee M. Patel, Esq.](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/our-firm/helee-patel-esq/): Immigration attorney. J.D. from Hofstra Law School (2018) with a concentration in International Law Honors; B.A. in Psychology from St. John's University (2012). Completed more than 1,000 hours in Hofstra's Asylum Clinic preparing defensive and affirmative asylum applications. Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and the American Bar Association. Handles removal proceedings, USCIS family petitions, bond applications, Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Circuit Court appeals, immigrant visas, waivers, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases. An immigrant herself, fluent in English and Gujarati and conversational in Hindi. - [Case Results](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/case-results/): Representative criminal defense dispositions and family law outcomes. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter. - [Reviews](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/testimonials/): Client testimonials. - [Blogs](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/blogs/): Articles on Pennsylvania criminal defense, DUI, family law, and immigration. - [Contact](https://cohenandpatellaw.com/contact/): Contact form, office address, and phone number.