If you are arrested or charged with a crime, the first thing you must do is hire an attorney. A Criminal Defense Attorney in Girardeau, MO. can defend you against the charges and ensure your rights are protected at all times. A criminal record can negatively affect the opportunities available to you in life, so it’s a good idea to hire an attorney who will work hard to help you prevail in court.
Although it is worth the cost, hiring a criminal defense attorney can be expensive. Many lawyers charge a few hundred dollars per hour, and those fees can add up, particularly if the case goes to trial. People who are unable to afford a private lawyer are usually assigned a public defender. Unfortunately, public defenders are usually overwhelmed with cases and may not have the time or energy to defend clients to the best of their abilities.
If you don’t have the money to hire a private attorney, here are a few ideas for how you can obtain it.
Personal Loan
There are many banks who offer signature loans, meaning you don’t have to put down any collateral to obtain the loan. If you have good credit and a decent job, you can take out a loan to pay for attorney’s fees. Get an estimate of the cost of your defense from your attorney to determine how much money you will need, and then talk to your bank about getting a loan for that amount.
Home Equity Loan
If you own a home or piece of property, you can take out a loan against the equity available in it. This option is good for people with less than perfect credit. Since the home will act as collateral for the loan, banks are more willing to take a chance on people credit-wise.
Payment Plan
Another option is to ask the Criminal Defense Attorney Girardeau, MO if he or she will accept a payment plan. Ask if you can make monthly payments on the fees until the cost of your defense is paid off. This is a form of credit and not all attorneys do this because of the risks involved. However, they may be more amendable to the option of you have a cosigner.
