FAQ

To give yourself the best chance at a favorable outcome, it is best to hire our office at the earliest possible stage. Don’t procrastinate when it comes to your freedom. As soon as you (or your loved one) is arrested or even accused of a crime, it is imperative that you contact our office. Independent investigations, witness interviews, communications with the prosecutor, etc. are most effective when they are performed early. Additionally, once a criminal defendant is given a court date there may be discovery or motion filing deadlines which may be missed if you are unrepresented.

You should never talk to the police, a prosecutor, or any state representative without an attorney present. These include verbal statements, recorded interviews, and written statements. Also, never discuss your case over the phone while you are in custody. All calls at the jail are subject to being monitored and recorded, and they can be used against you at a later time.

Our office is located in Fulton County; however, we represent defendants in ALL metropolitan area counties, and throughout the state of Georgia. Attorney Madden has represented clients in Savannah, Rome, Columbus, Valdosta, in North Georgia and in almost every county in the state. However, cases outside of the metropolitan Atlanta area are subject to an increased retainer fee for distance and travel.

You will have to contact our office for an exact price quote. There are a number of factors that determine the price for representation including but not limited to: the nature and number of charges, a client’s previous criminal history, the complexity of the charges including the number of co-defendants (if any), and the county where the defendant is being charged.

It depends on where the defendant’s case is procedurally, meaning how far along the case is in the criminal justice process. For example, our firm may be willing to entertain a payment plan if we are retained immediately after arrest or prior to the arraignment calendar, however if a case has been pending for quite some time, or if a case is scheduled for trial, the retainer fee is typically required in full up front. Generally speaking, our firm requires a minimum of half of the quoted fee up front before we will commence work on a case or appear in court on a defendant’s behalf.

Sometimes our office can represent a defendant for the limited purpose of bond, but typically this is only prior to indictment. Once a defendant has been indicted and assigned a judge, our firm will have to be retained for the entire case.