Criminal Defense Attorneys in Richardson, TX

A criminal charge in Richardson can be heard in Dallas or Collin County depending on where it happened. A licensed Texas criminal defense attorney serving Richardson will review your case free.

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How we match your Richardson criminal defense case

When you submit a Richardson 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 Texas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Texas 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.

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Criminal Defense cases in Richardson

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Richardson police work a city split by US 75 and the President George Bush Turnpike, with heavy nightlife and restaurant traffic near Belt Line and the Telecom Corridor, and a large student presence around UT Dallas. Common charges include DWI, possession, theft, assault involving family members, and driving offenses that escalate at traffic stops. Misdemeanors are handled in the Dallas County criminal county courts, while felonies go to the Dallas County criminal district courts, and federal charges are heard separately. Early representation shapes bond, filing decisions, and license consequences. DearLegal matches you with a Texas-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Richardson, with a free review.

Richardson misdemeanor cases are handled in the Dallas County criminal county courts and felonies in the Dallas County criminal district courts.
Arrests in the Collin County portion of Richardson, or in nearby Plano, are prosecuted by a different county's district attorney.
Traffic and DWI enforcement along US 75, the Bush Turnpike, and Belt Line drives a large share of local cases, and city-level citations start in the Richardson municipal court.

Texas criminal defense rules at a glance

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

Read the full Texas criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, leaving the scene resulting in death; 20 years for theft by public servant; 10 years for theft over $200,000, arson, sexual assault of an adult; 5 years for most felonies (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 12.01)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors (Art. 12.02)
Sentencing Structure: Capital
Capital, First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree, State Jail felonies and Class A/B/C misdemeanors under Tex. Penal § 12.04; punishment ranges in § 12.31-12.35; Habitual / 3g offender enhancements; deadly weapon findings increase parole eligibility (§ 42A.054)
Expungement / Nondisclosure: Tex. Code
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ch. 55 (Expunction) — acquittals, dismissals, certain other qualifying outcomes; Tex. Gov. Code § 411.0735 et seq. (Order of Nondisclosure) — seals records from public including Deferred Adjudication completions for many offenses; 2017 reforms expanded automatic nondisclosure for certain first-offense misdemeanors
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ch. 17; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Tex. Const. Art. I, § 11); SB 6 (2021) limited PR bonds for violent offenses; magistrate bond setting under Art. 17.15
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Richardson criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

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

Criminal defense attorneys in Texas work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof. Conduct 1.04(e) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (capital, federal, white-collar) use hourly billing. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission and county public defender offices (Harris, Dallas, Travis, Bexar, El Paso) and appointed counsel systems represent indigent defendants.

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

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Exhibit F

Richardson criminal defense questions, answered

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It depends on the level of the charge and where the arrest occurred. Dallas County misdemeanors are heard in the criminal county courts and felonies in the criminal district courts, while class C citations typically start in municipal court. Arrests in the Collin County part of the city go to that county's courts instead. An attorney will confirm the forum.

You are not required to, and statements made at a stop or in an interview room routinely become the strongest evidence against a defendant. You can decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer. Contacting an attorney before any interview is generally the safer course.

Sometimes. Texas has procedures such as expunction and orders of nondisclosure, and eligibility turns on the charge, the outcome of the case, and waiting periods that differ by situation. Some dismissals and completed diversion outcomes open the door. An attorney can assess whether your case qualifies and when.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Texas DPS, Texas Rangers, Houston PD, Dallas PD, Austin PD, San Antonio PD, and local sheriffs use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Tex. Const. Art. I, § 10 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Texas Class A misdemeanors carry up to 1 year and $4,000 fine; Class B up to 180 days and $2,000. Deferred Adjudication (Art. 42A.101 — completion = no conviction, eligible for nondisclosure) and Pretrial Intervention/Diversion (county-specific programs) make early counsel critical. DV (Family Violence) and DUI/DWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences including federal firearm prohibitions.