Facing criminal charges is stressful — and it can get expensive — so it’s normal to wonder, “Do lawyers have payment plans?”

Generally, the cost of your legal fees is determined by the charges you’re facing and the time it will take to defend you against those charges.

However, whether you can set up a payment plan to pay those fees is up to each individual lawyer. So this is a question you should ask the specific lawyer you’re considering hiring to represent you.

Legal Fee Agreements

Lawyers licensed under the State Bar of California must have a written fee agreement when they expect the fees and costs of a case to total $1,000 or more. This is the law.

Your fee agreement may be for an hourly fee, with estimated hours that it should take to handle your case, or it could be a fixed or standard fee. There could be a retainer fee involved.

There also may be other costs involved in your case that you’ll pay your lawyer for.

For criminal cases, fee agreements are almost always in writing. But whether it’s in writing or not, be sure to ask questions so that you understand the arrangements.

Payment Plans

Unlike the legal requirements for written fee agreements, there is nothing that requires lawyers to have payment plans. And since they run their businesses independently, every lawyer can make their own policies and decisions on this issue.

However, most are willing to work with you on payments and will create a plan based on various factors of your situation.

Mark Broughton, for example, offers payment plans based on the complexity of the case and the client’s ability to pay.

Do you Need Legal Help?

If you are facing criminal charges, it’s essential for you to obtain legal counsel for help right away. The worst thing you can do is to do nothing and just hope it will all go away. It won’t.

Mark Broughton has been a criminal defense lawyer in Fresno for the past 40+ years, and he can help if you are accused of a crime.

He has the experience, the compassion, and the empathy you need to help get you through the complex and challenging process of facing criminal charges. And he is a firm believer that every person has the right to a fair trial and is innocent until proven guilty.

If you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer, call 559-691-6222 or click here to request a free consultation. We’ll get back to you right away.