Criminal Defense Attorneys in Great Falls, MT

Great Falls DUI, drug, and assault charges go through Cascade County courts quickly. A Montana-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Great Falls will review your case and your options for free.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Montana attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Great Falls criminal defense case review

A Montana attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

By submitting, you agree that DearLegal and the attorneys or law firms we connect you with may contact you by phone and email about your inquiry, including by automated technology.

DearLegal is not a law firm and will not provide legal advice. DearLegal connects users to licensed attorneys.

How we match your Great Falls criminal defense case

When you submit a Great Falls 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 Montana law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Montana 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.

Start my free case review How DearLegal works

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 Great Falls

More about legal help in Great Falls →

Great Falls is the seat of Cascade County, and felony cases here are prosecuted in Cascade County District Court, with misdemeanors typically handled in city or justice court. Local caseloads run heavily to DUI, drug possession and distribution, assault, and theft, and the presence of Malmstrom Air Force Base means a state charge can carry parallel military or security-clearance consequences. Great Falls also hosts a federal courthouse, so some drug, firearm, and federal-land cases are charged federally instead. Early decisions about statements and testing matter. DearLegal matches you with a Montana-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Great Falls, with a free review.

Felony charges in Great Falls are prosecuted in Cascade County District Court; misdemeanors are usually heard in city or justice court.
Great Falls is home to a federal courthouse, and some drug, firearm, or federal-property cases proceed in federal court rather than state court.
For airmen and civilian employees connected to Malmstrom Air Force Base, a state charge can also trigger command or clearance consequences.

Montana criminal defense rules at a glance

Great Falls cases run under Montana law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Montana page.

Read the full Montana criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for deliberate homicide; 10 years for sexual intercourse without consent and certain sex offenses involving children; 5 years for most other felonies (MCA § 45-1-205)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 1 year
1 year for most misdemeanors (MCA § 45-1-205(2))
Sentencing Structure: 3 years
Statute-specific maximums rather than uniform classes; Persistent Felony Offender enhancements (MCA § 46-18-501); deferred imposition of sentence (§ 46-18-201) up to 3 years; mandatory minimums for certain firearm and sex offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: 5 years
MCA § 46-18-1101 et seq. — misdemeanor expungement after 5 years (expanded in 2017); completing a deferred imposition means dismissal and expungement; felony expungement remains narrow
Bail / Pretrial Release: Governed by MCA § 46-9-101
Governed by MCA § 46-9-101 et seq.; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Mont. Const. Art. II, § 21); pretrial risk assessment encouraged
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Great Falls criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Montana · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

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 Montana are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

You won't find contingency arrangements in Montana criminal cases — they're barred by Mont. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Instead, expect a flat fee for misdemeanors and most felonies, with hourly billing reserved for complex matters. Defendants who can't afford counsel are represented statewide by the Montana Office of State Public Defender.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

Great Falls criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Montana attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

It depends on the charge. Felonies go to Cascade County District Court, while misdemeanors such as many first-offense DUI or theft charges are typically handled in Great Falls Municipal Court or a justice court. Some conduct is charged federally instead. An attorney can confirm the forum from your citation or complaint.

You can decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer, and doing so is not evidence of guilt. Statements made early, often before you know what officers already have, tend to be the hardest part of a case to undo. Speaking with a Montana attorney first protects your options.

Montana allows relief in limited circumstances, and eligibility turns on the offense, the outcome, and how much time has passed. Not every conviction qualifies, and some records remain visible to certain employers and licensing bodies. An attorney can review your record and explain what relief, if any, is realistically available.

Don't. Be polite, decline, and ask for a lawyer. Montana Highway Patrol, the Division of Criminal Investigation, sheriffs, and city police are all trained interrogators, and everything you say can be used against you. You hold both a Fifth Amendment right to silence and a separate protection against self-incrimination under Mont. Const. Art. II, § 25 — invoke them.

Almost always. Depending on the offense, a Montana misdemeanor can mean up to 6 months or 1 year in county jail plus fines — and DUI or domestic violence convictions carry collateral consequences that follow you for years. A lawyer can also pursue deferred imposition of sentence under MCA § 46-18-201, which for many misdemeanors ends in dismissal and expungement.