We understand that the top question on your mind is likely “what’s this going to cost me?”
As you may expect, every case is unique, and so are the costs associated with it. Think of it like getting your car serviced: the price will depend on whether you're just getting an oil change or a full engine overhaul. In the same way, legal fees vary based on several factors:
Complexity of the Case: More intricate cases that require extensive legal research, documentation, and strategic planning will naturally incur higher costs.
Seriousness of the Offense: Cases involving more serious offenses often require additional legal work, preparation, and defense strategies, which can increase costs.
Need for Expert Testimony: In certain cases, expert witnesses may be necessary to provide specialized knowledge and testimony, which can add to the overall expense.
Amount of Discovery: The process of gathering evidence, known as discovery, varies widely between cases. Extensive discovery processes involving numerous documents, recordings, and depositions can increase costs.
Travel Costs: For cases that require travel to counties outside of Central Florida, additional travel expenses may be incurred. We will always provide a clear estimate of these costs upfront.
Just as the cost of car service varies based on what needs to be done, hiring a defense lawyer for a traffic ticket will generally be less expensive than for a more serious case like vehicular homicide. Our commitment to you is full transparency in our pricing. We ensure there are no hidden fees and want you to understand what your money is going to get you.
Generally, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for help with a typical traffic ticket, $1,000 and up for criminal traffic offenses and misdemeanors, and $5,000 and up for felony cases.
When we were public defenders, we would often get clients back from private attorneys after months or years because they didn’t realize they would have to pay more money if they wanted to go to trial.
At Pearl & Thompson, we never want a client to have to experience that. Because of that, trial fees are included in nearly all of our flat fee quotes. If it appears that it will be a case where we will be unable to include it in the up front price, that will be discussed with you before you sign a contract.