Understanding the Cost of an Aggravated Assault Defense in Frisco

How much is a lawyer for aggravated assault in Texas? There is no single fixed number. A fee is set after a lawyer reviews the specific allegations, the evidence, and how the case is likely to be handled. This page explains how fees are structured, what a felony defense usually covers, and which case facts move the cost up or down.

Why there is no single price for an aggravated assault defense

Most people reading this already have a charge on the table. Maybe you were arrested. Maybe a family member or coworker was. The cost question feels urgent, and that makes sense. A filed charge brings real decisions: who will represent you, when to meet, and how to pay.

A lawyer cannot responsibly quote one price before reading the file. The allegations, the injury claimed, the weapon alleged, and the evidence all change the work. Two cases with the same charge name can need very different amounts of time. The honest answer depends on the facts, and that is what a first meeting is for.

This page covers four things. It explains what the charge means under Texas law. It shows how lawyers usually bill. It lists what a felony defense fee covers and what may be billed separately. It also names the case facts that drive cost, and how payment is handled.

What an aggravated assault charge means under Texas law

Aggravated assault is an assault with a serious added factor. Under the Texas Penal Code, a person commits the offense when they commit an assault and either cause serious bodily injury to another, including a spouse, or use or exhibit a deadly weapon during the assault. The full definition is in Texas Penal Code § 22.02.

The offense is usually a second-degree felony. It can be a first-degree felony in listed circumstances. One example is using a deadly weapon and causing serious bodily injury to certain people with a family or household relationship to the defendant. A second-degree felony carries a range of 2 to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000, according to the same statute.

The level of the charge sets the stakes, and the stakes shape the defense plan. Felony cases often involve more evidence, more court settings, and more steps than simpler matters. That extra work is part of why felony defense fees look different from smaller cases.

How Texas defense lawyers typically charge: flat fee or hourly rate

Criminal defense lawyers usually charge in one of two ways. A flat fee is one agreed amount for a defined scope of work. An hourly rate means the lawyer bills for the time spent on your case.

Each structure has trade-offs. A flat fee gives you a set number up front, but it only covers the work in the written scope. If the case moves beyond that scope, the agreement should say what happens next. An hourly rate follows the work, so the total depends on how much the case needs.

The Texas State Law Library’s attorney fees guide explains that criminal defense fees vary by lawyer, location, and service. Ask for that basis in writing.

The engagement agreement matters most. It should list what is included, what is billed separately, and what happens if the case goes to trial. Read it before any money changes hands. Heather Barbieri can explain which structure fits your case after she reviews the allegations. She will not name a total before she has the file.

What a felony defense fee generally covers

A felony defense involves a lot of work that clients never see. Common tasks include reviewing the police report, video from body cameras or other sources, medical records, and witness statements. The defense also investigates the facts, talks with the prosecutor, files pretrial motions when needed, and negotiates.

If the case does not resolve, the defense prepares for trial. A case that resolves early needs less time than one that heads toward trial. That is why the same charge can produce very different invoices.

Not every cost is part of the fee. Court costs, service charges, and outside expenses may be billed separately. Ask whether each item is included, and get the answer in writing. A clear written scope tells you what is covered before the case begins.

Factors that raise or lower the cost of the defense

The allegations matter most. Whether a weapon is claimed, how serious the injury is alleged to be, and whether there is more than one complainant or count all change the workload. Each added count or person adds investigation and court time.

Physical evidence also changes review time. Video, photographs, and medical records each take hours to review. A case with long video and detailed medical records needs more time than one with a short police report.

Contested facts add work too. A self-defense or defense-of-others claim means building a factual record that answers the prosecution’s version. Each court setting adds time, and some cases have many. Charges that overlap with other allegations, such as sexual assault allegations, need a closer look at the timeline and the evidence.

How payment works and what Texas law does not allow

This firm does not offer a fee that depends on how your case ends. The fee is not tied to a dismissal, an acquittal, or a sentence. Payment terms belong in the engagement agreement, and you should see them before you pay.

Questions about paying for a lawyer are common, and you can discuss your situation during our free initial consultation, which is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.

Questions to ask at the first meeting about cost

Bring these questions to a first meeting: What structure do you propose, flat fee or hourly? What is included? What is billed separately? How does the fee change if the case goes to trial? What are the payment terms, and when are they due? A lawyer should answer each one in plain language.

Confirm each answer in the written agreement. A clear answer on cost lets you plan without guessing.

Can I hire a lawyer and pay later?

Payment terms should be set out in the engagement agreement before you agree to anything. Ask for them in writing.

Does a criminal defense fee include court costs?

Not always. Court costs and outside expenses may be billed separately, so ask and get the answer in writing.

Talk with Barbieri Law Firm about your aggravated assault charge

If a charge has been filed against you or someone you care about, you may be trying to understand what defense will cost before you decide anything. That is a reasonable thing to want. Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women firm in Frisco, Texas. It defends people charged with aggravated assault and family violence across Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Texas.

Call (972) 424-1902 or send your case details through the contact form. The first consultation is free, confidential, and without obligation to continue. We will review the evidence and explain your options. No lawyer can be sure how a case will end.

Heather Jean Barbieri, Board Certified, Criminal Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Attorney responsible for this site: Heather Barbieri, Barbieri Law Firm, Frisco, Texas.