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Garden City, MO

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Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Garden City, MO, Criminal Defense Lawyers With Payment Plans. Arrests and criminal charges are bad enough on their own. They’re stressful, have potentially life-altering consequences, and can become your whole life while you fight them. But frequently, the challenges start before you even make it into the courtroom: How am I going to pay for this?

As scary of a question as it is, there is an answer: You can still hire a top-quality Garden City criminal defense lawyer to protect your freedom. At Combs Waterkotte, we offer affordable and flexible payment plans so that you can get a premier legal defense without going bankrupt in the process. But while we are flexible with you on billing, we’re staunchly by your side in the courtroom – at Combs Waterkotte, you’re getting a results-driven, award-winning team of expert criminal defense attorneys.

On this page, we go over why a payment plan might work for you, but if you need to get started on your defense right away, call now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online – we offer free consultations on all cases, and can decide on next steps after our call.

Here, we go over the costs of criminal defense lawyers in Garden City, why payment plans may be a good choice for you, the features of our payment plans, and more. You can skip ahead to a specific topic here:

Now that we’ve outlined the basics, let’s look at why you should look to hire a Garden City, MO, defense attorney with a payment plan.


How Expensive Are Criminal Defense Attornies in Garden City?

It’s not possible to give a definitive answer on how much a case will cost without knowing all of the details, since each case is unique and provides different challenges. A case could cost anything from a couple of thousand dollars to as much as $25,000 for involved felony cases. MO lawyers, in particular, tend to cost more than is typical for the United States.

What About Public Defenders? Or Self-Representation?

With bills that high, you might be thinking about looking for a public defender or choosing to represent yourself. But don’t make that decision lightly – there are major downsides to either of those options. To get a public defender in Garden City, you first need to determine if you are even eligible.

Even if you do qualify, if you go with a public defender, you’re radically decreasing the chances of the goverment dropping the case. They’re also more likely to push you to accept 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 low support and colossal workloads, they just aren’t able to give your case the attention it needs.

Representing yourself will probably be even worse, though: Even for something as minor as a traffic ticket, you need a lawyer to be on your side and watch out for pitfalls. Before hiring us, one client paid a ticket without checking with an attorney, 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 go into determining the price. Here are the main ones to keep in mind:

  • Location: Cases in cities tend to cost more than in the country, because of the additional competition and fees.
  • Kind of Charge: Misdemeanors are usually cheaper than felonies. Some types of charges, like sex crimes, can also be more expensive due to the social stigma surrounding them.
  • Experience: Normally, the more courtroom experience an attorney has, the more they will charge.
  • 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.

What Difference Will a Payment Plan Make?

If you’re facing criminal allegations, payment plans can make a huge difference. Without a huge upfront cost, more people are able to afford a top attorney without going into debt.

The best payment plans are flexible, so that your lawyer can adapt to your needs and find a way that works for you.

Normally, people aren’t thinking about what to do if they’re facing prosecution. They’re not setting up their budget to cover the costs of criminal defense. 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

What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?

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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 to give you the justice you deserve, no matter who you are and what situation you are in. Because of that, we handle our billing in a way to make it attainable and affordable for everyday people, facing everything from DWIs to murder charges.

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

  • Low deposits – our down payments for both felonies and misdemeanors are affordable.
  • Realistic bill structures – we’re reasonable and will work with your budget to find something fair and affordable.
  • 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 premier criminal defense without going broke. We build staunch defenses, keep our phones open 24/7, and don’t give up 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 build defenses for a diverse catalog of allegations and offer payment plans for each of them. Here are some of the most common charges we defend clients against:

    Is your charge not one of the ones listed above? Look at our complete list of Garden City, MO, criminal charges we offer payment plans for, or set up an appointment to discuss options for your case.


    Criminal Defense Lawyers With Payment Plans


    Combs Waterkotte Garden City Criminal Defense Strategies

    When we defend you, our goal is to get you the best possible outcome for your case, whatever that looks like. Whatever you’re up against, we will put together a trial-ready, fearless defense that intimidates and impacts juries. We also utilize 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 Garden City, MO:


    Criminal Defense Lawyers With Payment Plans


    Facing Criminal Charges in Garden City, MO? Low on Funds? Call Combs Waterkotte

    We’re not here to pinch pennies or force you into debt – we’re here to defend your freedom and your future. Our team of leading Garden City, MO, criminal defense attorneys has defended over 10,000 cases with clients just like you to defend cases just like yours.

    At Combs Waterkotte, we see you as a person, not a paycheck or case number. We want to give your case the attention it deserves, no matter what it is or what your finances look like. Let us defend your freedom and your credit.

    reach out online or call us at (314) 900-HELP today for a free consultation on your case, and to talk about payment plans that make it affordable for you.

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