8 Ways To Pay For A Lawyer

Pay With A Credit Card

If the law firm you are trying to hire does not accept credit cards, then that should be your signal to leave immediately. Credit card processing at law firms is now common practice. This option allows you to combine the above options (financing and borrowing) with the fact that you might have a credit card or two paid off and hidden away for emergency purposes. Well guess what, this is that emergency reason to use your credit card. Yes, you probably just took the last year or two to pay it off month by month, but this is the time to use it again. It is better to pay off a credit card and hire the lawyer you want, than to use that same credit card to pay off court fines and fees.

Many people also consider applying for a new credit card. Most credit card companies will approve you to get a credit card and begin using that card within a few days after being approved. This option is popular because then you do not have to ask for help and if you keep up with the payments you can improve your credit score while in the process of putting your legal situation behind you.

Ask A Family Member Or A Friend For Help

Chances are, if you’re looking to hire a criminal defense lawyer you are in some kind of trouble, so this is a good time to ask for help if you need to. Don’t let your pride get in the way. Your friends and family are your security blanket. If you know someone who may have the means to help you, don’t be afraid to ask. Explain to your family that the judge has the power to put you in jail and you need help now. You can pay family back later but the judge is not going to wait and you have to hire a lawyer as early as possible.

Life is unpredictable, and many people are struggling to make ends meet. If an emergency comes up, such as being arrested or accused of a crime, you might not have the above options. Where do you turn for help?

Remember, you do not need to tell them any of the details of your arrest. It is hard to not explain your charges to them but most people will respect that you need to maintain confidentiality and can only talk to your lawyer about what happened in your case.

Most law firms, such as Future First Criminal Law, will even allow a family member to pay the law firm directly. This is helpful in situations if your family is concerned that you might not use the money for the intended purpose. The family member who pays does not have any control over the case and all the details of the case will still remain confidential. However, the payment can be discussed with the family member. Likewise, the client still remains in control of hiring and firing the law firm, so the family member cannot turn around and take the money back unless the client ends the relationship with the law firm.

As mentioned above, there are financing companies that your friends and family members can use to apply for loans to pay for your representation. For instance, if the total cost to hire a lawyer is $8,000, then this can be split into multiple different people paying. You can pay $1,000 via credit card, then get financing for another $2,000. One of your parents might also do financing and take a loan for $4,000 since they have better credit than you do. Finally, a close friend can finance the remaining $1,000. The total balance will be paid to the law firm and they will usually wait to receive all the money prior to filing any paperwork with the court. At the end of the day, you are able to hire a law firm and then can work off paying your friends and family.

Use Your Savings Account

Most people usually have some kind of savings account whether it is for an upcoming vacation or large home appliance purchase. However, most people have been saving that money for so long that they either forgot about it in an old bank account or they think it must be spent on the thing they originally saved it for. That was the plan, but now that you need a criminal lawyer, the plan has changed. It is always better to use your savings account to pay for a lawyer and help your future than to sit on it for years to come and regret not getting the help you needed. The long-term benefit is worth it and this is why using a savings account is beneficial.

Use Your Inheritance

A big reason people leave money to family members is that money provides a certain amount of protection and security. Being able to hire a good lawyer if you need one is precisely the kind of situation an inheritance is for. Some people also know that they have an inheritance or trust that will be given to them at a later date. Instead of waiting years to receive the money–now–is the appropriate time to speak with the trust holder to ask them for an advance in your inheritance.

Use Your Retirement Fund

Your present circumstances can have a profound effect on your future retirement and career opportunities. If you have a 401k or IRA with your current employer, you may be able to withdraw money from this account. However, doing so is expensive, as you will face a hefty tax on your withdrawal amount, and an early withdraw penalty fee.

A better option is to take out a loan from your 401k. Oftentimes, you can do this with low interest. You will have to pay it back, but you are essentially paying yourself. You should speak with your employer about this.

Many people also have their own investment account for stocks and bonds on virtual apps like Robinhood and eTrade. These are intended to be long-term investment accounts but you might have to consider selling your stocks to get cash in hand.

Sell Your Car or Refinance Your House

If you are facing serious jail or prison time, chances are that you won’t be driving or living in your house if you are convicted. It may be a good idea to sell your car or refinance your house. There are a few, if any, law firms that take pink slips as collateral. Remember, your car is replaceable, but your freedom is not. The house mortgage is typically a loan that can be processed and the balance will be spread into a new 30-year term loan.

The hard part about this option is that you will need to quickly sell the car or refinance quickly. This usually means that you might not get as much money for the car as you would if you had more time to wheel and deal on the selling price. Refinancing a house is also not the quickest turn around and can be stressful to complete.