If you've been arrested or charged in Fort Worth, the first 48 hours matter. The Tarrant County firms below defend DWI, felony, and misdemeanor cases every week, most staffed by former prosecutors who know how the other side builds a case. A free consultation costs you nothing and a flat fee tells you the price before you commit.
The honest answer is: before you talk to police. You have the right to stay silent and the right to a lawyer, and using them is not an admission of guilt. Texas sorts crimes into misdemeanors (Class A, B, and C) and felonies (state-jail up through first-degree and capital). Even a Class A misdemeanor can mean up to a year in county jail, and a felony follows you on background checks for life. An early lawyer can sometimes keep charges from being filed at all.
DWI is the most common charge these Fort Worth firms handle, and it runs on two tracks at once. There's the criminal case in Tarrant County court, and a separate driver's-license fight through the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process — and you generally have only 15 days after a DWI arrest to request the ALR hearing or your license is suspended automatically. Missing that window is a costly, avoidable mistake.
Texas also offers ways to clear your record later. An expunction (full erasure) or an order of nondisclosure (sealing) can be available depending on how the case ends, which is why how you resolve today's charge matters for years. Several firms below handle both the defense and the later record-clearing.
Fort Worth's highest-reviewed criminal-defense firm, staffed largely by former prosecutors. Defends DWI, felonies, federal cases, and white-collar charges, with a family-law and injury practice added in recent years. Built for serious or high-exposure cases.
Fort Worth defense firm with more than 60 years of combined experience as former prosecutors. Attorney Brandon Fulgham carries a 10/10 Avvo rating and the firm reports a high client-satisfaction record. Concentrates on DWI, felonies, drug charges, and federal cases.
Fort Worth criminal-defense practice handling DWI, felonies, drug charges, and family-violence allegations. A reasonable firm to compare against the larger shops when you want focused, direct representation on a Tarrant County case.
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Most Tarrant County defense lawyers charge a flat fee by the charge, not by the hour. A misdemeanor or first-time DWI commonly runs $2,500-$6,000; a contested DWI with the license hearing and motions costs more.
Felony defense is more variable — often $7,500-$25,000, and higher for serious felonies that may go to trial. Hourly billing, where used, runs about $250-$450/hour in Fort Worth.
Flat fees exist precisely to remove surprises: you know the cost of the defense before you hire. A later expunction or nondisclosure is usually a separate flat fee, often $1,500-$3,500.
A misdemeanor or straightforward DWI often resolves in 3-8 months through negotiation, a diversion or pretrial program, or a plea. The ALR license side moves on its own faster clock, which is why early action matters.
Felony cases in Tarrant County typically take 6-18 months as the defense reviews evidence, files motions, and negotiates. Cases that go to a jury trial run longer.
Record-clearing comes after the case ends and any waiting period passes, usually adding a few months from petition to order once you're eligible.
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