Kentucky Criminal Defense Attorneys
At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Kentucky criminal defense attorneys who navigate the Class A-D felony grading system, PFO (Persistent Felony Offender) enhancements, the 85% violent offender service requirement, and Kentucky’s broadened expungement framework.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Kentucky attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Kentucky criminal defense case review
A Kentucky attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
How we match your Kentucky criminal defense case
When you submit a Kentucky 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 Kentucky law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Kentucky 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.
Exhibit A
What happens with a criminal defense claim in Kentucky
Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Kentucky criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Kentucky, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.
Exhibit B
When to call a criminal defense attorney in Kentucky
Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.
Exhibit C
Criminal Defense cases we take in Kentucky
Which one is closest to yours?
DUI / DUI Aggravated
Kentucky DUI under KRS § 189A.010 (.08 BAC). First offense: 48 hours to 30 days jail, $200-$500 fine, 30-120-day license suspension. Aggravating circumstances (BAC .15+, speed 30+ over, passenger under 12, refusal) double minimums. Fourth DUI in 10 years: Class D felony.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDrug possession and trafficking
Kentucky legalized medical cannabis effective 2025 (HB 829, 2023) with limited qualifying conditions; recreational remains illegal. Possession of marijuana under 8 oz is a Class B misdemeanor (KRS § 218A.1422). Trafficking in Controlled Substances under KRS § 218A.1412 et seq. — Class C or D felony depending on substance and quantity.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewAssault
Kentucky assault: First-degree (KRS § 508.010, Class B felony — serious physical injury with deadly weapon), Second-degree (Class C felony), Third-degree (Class D felony — against police, etc.), Fourth-degree (Class A misdemeanor).
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewDomestic violence
Kentucky treats DV under KRS § 403.715 et seq. (protective orders) and as Assault 4th-degree or higher under § 508.030 with DV designation. Mandatory arrest under KRS § 403.745. Domestic Violence Offender Treatment mandatory. Federal § 922(g)(9) firearm ban applies.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewTheft and burglary
Kentucky theft tiers under KRS § 514.030: under $500 (Class A misdemeanor), $500-$10,000 (Class D felony), over $10,000 (Class C felony). Burglary degrees under § 511 — First-degree (dwelling with weapon) Class B felony.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewWhite-collar crimes
Kentucky prosecutes theft, fraud, identity theft (KRS § 514.160), forgery, and securities fraud through Commonwealth’s Attorneys. Federal exposure in Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky for wire fraud, healthcare fraud (Medicare/Medicaid), and tax fraud.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewGun and firearm charges
Kentucky is a constitutional carry state as of 2019 (KRS § 237.110). Felons cannot possess firearms under KRS § 527.040 (Class D or C felony depending on prior). Federal § 922(g) prosecutions aggressive.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewSex offenses
Kentucky sex offender registration under KRS § 17.500 et seq. — 20-year or lifetime registration. Rape First-Degree (KRS § 510.040) Class A felony; Sodomy First-Degree (§ 510.070) Class A felony. Mandatory minimums under Violent Offender statute.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewHomicide
Kentucky homicide: Capital Murder (KRS § 507.020, death-eligible — Kentucky retains death penalty), Murder (Class A felony 20-50 or life), Manslaughter First-Degree (Class B), Manslaughter Second-Degree (Class C), Reckless Homicide (Class D). Felony murder included in Murder.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewJuvenile offenses
Kentucky juveniles handled under KRS § 600 et seq. Transfer to Circuit Court for 14+ charged with serious felonies under § 635.020. Presumptive transfer for 16/17. Juvenile expungement under KRS § 610.330.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewProbation and parole violations
Kentucky probation revocation under KRS § 533.040 et seq. Technical violations addressed through graduated sanctions (Kentucky Smart on Crime, HB 463, 2011). Parole Board violations under KRS § 439.430.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewFederal crimes in Kentucky
Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky. Common: I-65, I-75, I-71 drug trafficking (Mexican fentanyl/meth and Appalachian opioid distribution), § 922(g) felon-in-possession, wire fraud, healthcare fraud (Eastern Kentucky pill mill cases), and federal coal/environmental offenses.
Sound like yours? A Kentucky attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.
Start my free reviewExhibit D
How much do Kentucky criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Kentucky · 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 Kentucky are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.
Criminal defense attorneys in Kentucky work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Ky. SCR 3.130(1.5)(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy represents indigent defendants statewide.
A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.
Exhibit E
What your Kentucky criminal defense compensation can include
A Kentucky criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.
Charge Dismissal
Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss indictment, speedy trial under RCr 9.02 / KRS § 503.110 (Kentucky has a constitutional speedy trial right), or prosecutor motion to dismiss.
Charge Reduction
Reduction from felony to misdemeanor (felony amendment to misdemeanor on plea), reduction within felony classes, removal of PFO or Violent Offender allegations.
Pretrial Diversion
Pretrial Diversion under KRS § 533.250 — for certain Class D felony defendants without prior felony, defendant placed on diversion, charges dismissed upon completion. Drug court, mental health court, veterans court available.
Plea Agreement
Negotiated resolution under RCr 8.08. Includes charge reductions, dismissed counts, recommended sentences, probation in lieu of incarceration, and stipulated PFO/Violent Offender removal.
Trial Acquittal
Not guilty verdict by Kentucky jury or judge. Kentucky criminal juries are 12 for felonies, 6 for misdemeanors, and must be unanimous (Ky. Const. § 7).
Post-Conviction Relief
Kentucky RCr 11.42 motion for IAC and constitutional violations (3-year filing window); CR 60.02 for newly discovered evidence; state habeas corpus. Limited successor petition allowance.
DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.
Exhibit F
Kentucky criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Kentucky attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Kentucky
Same Kentucky rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
