Wellington, 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 frequently, there’s an important question you have to ask before you start building your defense: How are you going to pay for a lawyer?
You have options: You can still get a top-quality Wellington criminal defense lawyer to defend your rights. At Combs Waterkotte, we provide payment plans that are customized to you 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 – when you work with our team, you’re getting a highly experienced, award-winning team of expert criminal defense lawyers.
Here, we’re outlining the potential advantages of a payment plan, but if you need to get started on your defense right away, call now at (314) 900-HELP or schedule an appointment online – we offer free consultations for anyone facing charges, and can figure out the details when we talk.
Here, we outline the typical expenses of criminal defense attorneys in Wellington, why payment plans may be a good choice for you, how our payment plans work, and more. You can jump to a specific topic here:
- How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Wellington, MO?
- Are public defenders good options?
- Things that affect a case’s price
- Why you should consider payment plans when hiring a lawyer
- How our criminal defense payment plans work for you
- Case types you can use payment plans for
- Defensive strategies we could use for your case
- Hire a lawyer now with a payment plan that works for you
Now that we’ve outlined the basics, let’s look at why you should look to hire a Wellington, MO, defense attorney with a payment plan.
How Expensive Are Criminal Defense Attornies in Wellington?
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 complicated felony cases. MO lawyers, in particular, tend to cost a bit above normal for the United States.
What About Public Defenders? Or Self-Representation?
Considering those costs, no one would blame you for thinking about getting a public defender or representing yourself. But don’t make that decision lightly – there are major drawbacks to both of those choices. To get a public defender in Wellington, there are certain eligibility requirements that you must fit to qualify.
Even if you are eligible, picking a public defender instead of a private defense lawyer signficicantly decreases your chances of the state dropping the case against you. Public defenders also frequently push for plea deals, which can result in unfavorable outcomes for you.
The quality of the public defender doesn’t matter – unfortunately, due to their lack of funding and tremendous caseloads, they just aren’t able to give your case the attention it needs.
Going it alone can 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. 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?
When considering the cost to defend a given case, there’s a lot to keep in mind: 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. Additionally, some defenses can be more expensive because of the sensitive nature of the allegation, like with sex crimes.
- Experience: Experienced, expert lawyers will typically charge more than their novice counterparts.
- Hourly vs Flat: While it depends on the case, flat feeds tend to be more transparent in terms of pricing. Hourly rates can look more affordable at first glance, but over time will add up.
- 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. By avoiding a massive upfront cost, more people are able to hire a lawyer without going into debt.
The best payment plans are tailored to you, so that your lawyer can adapt to your needs and find a way that works for you.
We know that most people aren’t expecting to face criminal charges. They’re not setting up their budget to cover the costs of criminal defense. Payment plans make hiring a premium legal defense team for your case not only possible, but reasonable.
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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. Because of that, we handle our billing in a way to make it realistic and affordable for everyday people, facing anything 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 customize your billing structure in a way that works for everyone.
- 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 leading criminal defense without breaking the bank. We build staunch defenses, are in reach 24/7, and keep fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
Free book
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.
Criminal Defense Case Types We Offer Payment Plans For
At Combs Waterkotte, we are proud to be MO’s leading criminal defense firm for numerous case types, and offer payment plans for each of them. Here are some of the charges we regularly defend clients from:
Is your charge not one of the ones listed above? Search the complete list of Wellington, MO, criminal charges we offer payment plans for, or get in touch today to discuss options for your case.

Combs Waterkotte Wellington Criminal Defense Strategies
When we defend you, our mission is find the most positive outcome for your case, whatever it is. Regardless of the charges, we will construct a trial-ready, fearless defense that intimidates the state and impacts juries. We also take advantage of our connections with prosecutors and judges across MO to get charges dropped and secure favorable plea deals.
Want to learn more about how we do it? These are some typical defense strategies we might use to defend you in Wellington, MO:
- Alibi
- Self Defense/Defense of Others
- Lack of Intent
- Fourth Amendment Rights Violation
- Fifth Amendment Rights Violation
- Duress
- Necessity

Charged With a Crime in Wellington, MO? Low on Funds? Call Combs Waterkotte
We’re not here to empty your bank accounts or put you in debt – we’re here to protect your life and your future. Our team of expert Wellington, MO, criminal defense lawyers 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 another case or paycheck. We are here to help you, whoever you are, and whatever legal or financial situation you’re in. 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.

