Criminal Defense Attorneys in Louisville, KY
Louisville arrests, from DUI stops to more serious charges, move through Jefferson County court quickly. A licensed Kentucky criminal defense attorney will review your charges free of charge.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with a Kentucky attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Louisville criminal defense case review
A Kentucky attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
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How we match your Louisville criminal defense case
When you submit a Louisville 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.
Criminal Defense cases in Louisville
More about legal help in Louisville →Criminal charges in Louisville range from DUI stops around Bardstown Road and downtown nightlife, drug possession, and assault to serious felonies and federal cases tied to interstate trafficking through the city’s logistics corridors. Misdemeanors are heard in Jefferson District Court and felonies in Jefferson Circuit Court, prosecuted by the county attorney or commonwealth’s attorney. What you say at arrest, how bond is handled, and early motion practice can change the outcome significantly. DearLegal matches you with a Kentucky-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Louisville, and the review is free.
- Louisville misdemeanors go to Jefferson District Court; felonies are heard in Jefferson Circuit Court.
- DUI arrests near Louisville’s nightlife districts and interstate corridors are common local charges.
- Drug cases along I-65 and I-64 through Louisville sometimes draw federal charges in addition to state ones.
Kentucky criminal defense rules at a glance
Louisville cases run under Kentucky law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Kentucky page.
Read the full Kentucky criminal defense guide →- Felony Statute of Limitations
No limit
No limit for felonies in Kentucky — Kentucky is unusual in having no statute of limitations for any felony (KRS § 500.050)
- Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations
1 year
1 year for most misdemeanors (KRS § 500.050(2))
- Sentencing Structure
85%
Class A-D felony grading under KRS § 532.060; PFO enhancement (§ 532.080); Violent Offender 85% service (§ 439.3401); capital offense death/LWOP under § 532.030
- Expungement / Record Sealing
5 years
KRS § 431.078 (misdemeanor expungement, 5 years post-completion); KRS § 431.073 (Class D felony expungement, expanded by HB 327, 2019); narrow eligibility for higher felonies
- Bail / Pretrial Release
Bail
Bail under KRS § 431.520; pretrial services through Kentucky Court of Justice Pretrial Services; risk-based release decisions encouraged
- Typical attorney fee
Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee
Exhibit D
How much do Louisville 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 F
Louisville 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.
