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Dearborn, MO

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Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Dearborn, MO, Criminal Defense Lawyers With Payment Plans. Arrests and criminal charges are bad enough on their own. You’re facing challenges that nobody wants to go through. But for many people, possibly you, the challenges start before you even make it into the courtroom: How am I going to pay for this?

Don’t give up on getting a top-quality Dearborn criminal defense attorney to defend your case. At Combs Waterkotte, we offer affordable and flexible payment plans so that you can get an elite team of attorneys without losing all your money in legal fees. But while we are flexible with you on billing, we’re staunchly by your side in the courtroom – at Combs Waterkotte, you’re getting an award-winning team of expert criminal defense lawyers.

Here, we’re outlining the potential advantages of a payment plan, but if you’re in an emergency and need to discuss options with an expert, call now at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch online – we offer free consultations on all cases, and can guide you from there.

Here, we discuss the costs of criminal defense lawyers in Dearborn, the advantages of payment plans, how our payment plans work, and more. You can jump to a specific topic here:

Read on to learn all about why a Dearborn, MO criminal defense lawyer with a payment plan is right for you.


How Expensive Are Criminal Defense Attornies in Dearborn?

Prices for criminal defense cases can vary a lot, even for the same lawyer. The different circumstances for each case can increase or decrease costs a lot. Criminal defense case costs range from a couple of thousand dollars to as much as $25,000 for intricate felony cases. MO lawyers, in particular, tend to cost slightly above average for the United States.

What About Public Defenders? Or Self-Representation?

With bills that high, no one would blame you for thinking about getting a public defender or choosing to represent yourself. But don’t rush into that decision – there are major risks and roadblocks if you go with either of those routes. To get a public defender in Dearborn, first, you need to meet the eligibility requirements.

Even if you are eligible, picking a public defender instead of a private defense lawyer signficicantly decreases your chances of the prosecution dropping the case. Public defenders also frequently push for plea deals, which leads to unfavorable outcomes for you.

Tragically, even if you have a great public defender, it’s unlikely to help you – unfortunately, due to their lack of funding and tremendous workloads, they can’t give every case the time it deserves.

Trying to navigate the Dearborn, MO, legal process on your own can be even worse, though: Even just for a traffic ticket, you need a lawyer to be on your side and watch out for pitfalls. One of our clients paid a ticket without thinking about it, and ended up paying $6,000 in increased insurance costs.

What Factors Affect Criminal Case Costs?

Because every case is unique, the potential cost for a case can vary a lot: Many factors affect the cost to defend a case. Here are the main ones to keep in mind:

  • Location: Defending alleged crimes in city courts typically costs more than in rural jurisdictions, due to the increased complexity of the legal system.
  • Kind of Charge: Generally, misdemeanors are less expensive than felonies. Some defenses are also more expensive if the specific allegations carry a social stigma, like rape or other sex crimes.
  • Experience: Experienced, expert lawyers will typically charge more than their novice counterparts.
  • Hourly vs Flat: Hourly rates may seem cheaper at first, but can creep up over time. Each case is unique, but flat fees are more predictable and won’t have hidden costs.
  • Unique Case Factors: If your defense requires specialized work, for example, hiring an expert forensic analyst as a witness, you will likely have to pay more.

Can a Payment Plan Make a Difference?

Payment plans can make a massive difference for defendants facing criminal allegations. By avoiding a massive upfront cost, more people can hire a lawyer without going into debt.

The best payment plans are flexible, so that you and your attorney can find something that works for both of you.

Normally, people aren’t thinking about what to do if they’re facing prosecution. They’re not setting up their budget to account for the costs of a lawyer. Payment plans make top-rate criminal defense lawyers affordable for people when they need one most.



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Play video

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Play video

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Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs and Matthew Brown from Combs Waterkotte answer the most commonly asked questions about …

How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
Play video

How Does Plea Bargaining Work?

Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.

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Play video

Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?

Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …

Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
Play video

Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?

St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …

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Play video

Everything You Need to Know About Criminal Defense Cases in Missouri

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Play video

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How Combs Waterkotte’s Payment Plans Protect Your Wallet

At Combs Waterkotte, we want your rights to be protected, no matter who you are and what your bank account looks like. In order to do so, we structure our fees in a way to make it attainable and affordable for everyday people, facing anything from DWIs to murder charges.

Here’s how our payment plans can protect your wallet:

  • Low deposits – You don’t have to pay high initial fees to hire us – for both felonies and misdemeanors.
  • Realistic bill structures – we’re reasonable and will work with your budget to build a plan that works for you.
  • Multiple payment options – we accept credit, debit, checks, money orders, and more.
  • Flat fees – know what you’re paying and what you’re getting for it up front.

Get a top criminal defense without breaking the bank. We build strong defenses, keep our phones open 24/7, and won’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.


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How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Protect Your Rights and Future

Combs Waterkotte has over 60 years of experience and over 10,000 cases handled. This ebook helps guide you through the criminal defense process and how an experienced, skilled defense attorney can keep your freedoms intact.










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    Criminal Defense Case Types We Offer Payment Plans For

    At Combs Waterkotte, we take pride in defending a wide variety of criminal charges in MO and offer payment plans for every one. Here are some of the charges we regularly defend clients from:

    Facing a different criminal charge? Look at the complete list of Dearborn, MO, criminal charges we offer payment plans for, or reach out now to discuss options for your case.


    Criminal Defense Lawyers With Payment Plans


    Combs Waterkotte Dearborn Criminal Defense Strategies

    When you hire us, our mission is find the most positive outcome for your case, whatever it is. Whatever you’re facing, our team will create a trial-ready, fearless defense that intimidates the state and impacts juries. We also leverage our relationships with prosecutors and judges across MO to get charges dropped and secure favorable plea deals.

    Here are some of the main defense strategies we use against criminal charges in Dearborn, MO:


    Criminal Defense Lawyers With Payment Plans


    Charged With a Crime in Dearborn, MO? Low on Funds? Call Combs Waterkotte

    We’re not here to be stingy or put you in debt – we’re here to defend your freedom and your future. Our team of leading Dearborn, MO, criminal defense lawyers has has extensive experience working with clients just like you to defend cases just like yours.

    At Combs Waterkotte, we see you as a person, not a another case or paycheck. We help good people in bad situations, both legal and financial. Let us defend your freedom and your credit.

    Set up an appointment online or call us at (314) 900-HELP today for a free consultation on your case, and to discuss payment plans that will work for you.

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