Criminal Defense Attorneys in Savannah, GA
Whether it’s a downtown Savannah arrest or a Chatham County felony charge, what you do first matters. A Georgia-licensed criminal defense attorney practicing in Savannah will review your case free of charge.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
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Free Savannah criminal defense case review
A Georgia attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
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How we match your Savannah criminal defense case
When you submit a Savannah criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.
Case type
A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.
Size and complexity
Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.
Jurisdiction and licensing
Your matter is decided under Georgia law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Georgia who regularly appears where your case would be heard.
Capacity and fit
Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.
Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.
DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.
Criminal Defense cases in Savannah
More about legal help in Savannah →Savannah's downtown entertainment district, St. Patrick's Day crowds, and busy river-front and Broughton Street nightlife generate a steady stream of DUI, open-container, disorderly conduct, and assault arrests, while traffic stops along I-95 and I-16 produce drug and weapons charges. Cases are prosecuted by local law enforcement and the district attorney's office, with felonies heard in Chatham County Superior Court and lesser offenses in the county's state and municipal courts. Port and interstate cases occasionally draw federal charges. What you say at the scene and at the first appearance matters. DearLegal matches you with a Georgia-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Savannah, with a free review.
- Felony charges in Savannah are prosecuted in Chatham County Superior Court, while misdemeanors and traffic matters are commonly handled in state or municipal court.
- Downtown nightlife, festival crowds, and interstate traffic stops drive many local DUI, drug, and disorderly conduct arrests.
- Arrests in Effingham, Bryan, or Liberty County proceed in those counties' courts, and some port or interstate cases are charged federally instead.
Georgia criminal defense rules at a glance
Savannah cases run under Georgia law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Georgia page.
Read the full Georgia criminal defense guide →- Felony Statute of Limitations
No limit
No limit for murder, armed robbery, kidnapping; 15 years for serious sex offenses against minors; 7 years for most other felonies; 4 years for property/financial felonies (O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1)
- Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations
2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1(d))
- Sentencing Structure
Indeterminate ranges
Indeterminate ranges in individual statutes; Seven Deadly Sins mandatory minimums under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1; Habitual Violator/recidivist under § 17-10-7; Georgia Sentencing Guidelines (advisory)
- Expungement / Record Sealing
4 years
O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 (record restriction); SB 288 (2020) expanded restriction to many misdemeanor convictions after 4 years; First Offender Act (§ 42-8-60) — no conviction entered on successful completion
- Bail / Pretrial Release
Bail
Bail under O.C.G.A. § 17-6-1; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital offenses and the Seven Deadly Sins; Superior Court must set bond for most felonies (§ 17-6-1(b))
- Typical attorney fee
Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee
Exhibit D
How much do Savannah criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Georgia · Criminal Defense
Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
Criminal Defense matters in Georgia are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Georgia work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Ga. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. Georgia’s circuit-based Public Defender system represents indigent defendants.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit F
Savannah criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Georgia attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Georgia
Same Georgia rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
