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Criminal Appeal Lawyer Fees in Houma

Criminal appeal lawyer fees in Houma, Louisiana average about $17,000 — roughly 85% of the U.S. average and below the Louisiana state average of $18,200.

Low
$6,400
Average fee
$17,000
per appeal
High
$42,550

What this typically includes

Ordering and reading the full record, identifying which issues were preserved, researching and writing the opening and reply briefs, oral argument where it is granted, and a motion for bail pending appeal where that is available. The transcript, the appellate filing fee, a petition for discretionary review, and any later post-conviction or habeas petition are normally separate.

Houma, LA Intermediate appellate court state

Louisiana has an intermediate appellate court that must hear a first appeal from a criminal conviction. The state’s highest court takes only the cases it chooses.

So the appeal you are being quoted for is normally the intermediate one. A later petition asking the highest court to review it is a separate engagement at a separate fee.

The deadline to file the notice of appeal is set by Louisiana, and is short and jurisdictional. Confirm it the day you are sentenced rather than relying on any general figure.

Appeal lawyers in Louisiana usually charge one flat fee for the whole appeal. It is priced on the length of the trial record rather than the seriousness of the charge. They bill hourly where the length of the record is unknown at the outset.

The transcript is a separate cost the appellant normally bears, at the court reporter’s per-page rate. Louisiana sets that rate by rule or statute, so ask for a page-count estimate before comparing quotes.

Louisiana also sets the filing deadline, the briefing schedule and the rules for bail pending appeal. An indigent defendant is generally entitled to appointed appellate counsel and a transcript at public expense on a first appeal.

Get in touch with a criminal appeal lawyer in Houma

Browse these criminal appeal attorneys serving Houma. Give a call or request an estimate and connect with local firm that fits your case.

We’re still adding criminal appeal attorneys in Houma. Request a case evaluation and we’ll connect you with a local firm.

How Houma compares

Average criminal appeal lawyer fees, Houma vs. Louisiana vs. the U.S.

Houma
$17,000
Louisiana
$18,200
U.S. average
$20,000

Houma runs about 15% lower than the national average for criminal appeal lawyer fees.

What affects criminal appeal lawyer fees in Houma

In Houma, the cost of living sits at 85% of the U.S. average — both of which influence what local attorneys charge. Beyond location, these factors move criminal appeal lawyer fees:

  • Length of the record — Every page of the transcript has to be read, so page count drives both the fee and the transcript bill.
  • Preserved issues — A record with several well-preserved errors takes far more briefing than one with a single narrow issue.
  • Court and stage — The first appeal, a petition for discretionary review, and a federal appeal are priced as separate engagements.
  • Attorney experience — Appellate specialists and former judicial clerks charge more than general criminal practitioners.
  • Transcript and filing costs — Court-reporter page rates and the appellate filing fee are case costs billed on top of the fee.
  • Local appellate rates — Fees track the market where the appellate court sits, much as trial-level rates do.

How to choose a criminal appeal lawyer in Houma

Fees matter, but the right criminal appeal attorney in Houma also protects both your time and your result. Before you hire:

  • Confirm the fee structure. Criminal appeal matters are usually a flat fee — one agreed price for the work. Get it in writing before you sign — our flat fees guide explains exactly what to look for.
  • Look for criminal appeal experience. Choose an attorney who regularly handles criminal appeal cases in Louisiana, not a generalist.
  • Use the free consultation. Most Houma criminal appeal attorneys review your case at no cost — use it to compare two or three.
  • Verify licensing. Confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the Louisiana state bar.
  • Clarify what's included. Ask which case costs are separate from the fee and how they are billed — see attorney fees vs. case costs.

Need help with your criminal appeal case?

Average attorney fees in Houma by case type

National benchmarks adjusted by Houma's cost-of-living index (85). Open a case type for its full Houma fee breakdown.

Case type How it’s billed Low Average High
Criminal Appeal Flat fee $6,400 $17,000 $42,550
Divorce Flat fee $1,700 $6,400 $17,000
Immigration Flat fee $430 $3,000 $12,750
Real Estate Flat fee $680 $1,300 $3,000
Probate Flat fee $1,300 $3,850 $12,750
Car Accidents Contingency $1,700 $5,100 $12,750
Personal Injury Contingency $2,550 $8,500 $25,550
Patent Flat fee $4,250 $8,500 $15,300
Estate Planning Flat fee $430 $1,700 $4,250
DUI Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $8,500
Child Support Hourly $850 $3,000 $8,500
Criminal Defense Flat fee $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Child Custody Hourly $1,700 $6,800 $21,300
H-1B Visa Flat fee $1,700 $3,000 $5,100
Trademark Flat fee $510 $1,000 $2,150
Living Trust Flat fee $1,000 $2,150 $4,250
Traffic Ticket Flat fee $85 $260 $640
Family Law Hourly $1,300 $5,950 $17,000
Speeding Ticket Flat fee $85 $260 $640
Bankruptcy Flat fee $850 $1,700 $3,850
Premises Liability Contingency $4,700 $14,900 $68,100
Pedestrian Accident Contingency $3,000 $10,200 $34,050
Chapter 7 Flat fee $850 $1,300 $2,150
Traffic Violation Flat fee $85 $260 $640
Clemency Flat fee $1,700 $5,100 $12,750
Bicycle Accident Contingency $2,150 $6,800 $21,300
Medicaid Planning Flat fee $2,550 $5,550 $12,750
Adoption Flat fee $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Medical Malpractice Contingency $21,300 $85,100 $297,850
Expungement Flat fee $430 $1,300 $3,400
Workers Compensation Contingency $1,300 $3,400 $8,500
SSDI Contingency $1,700 $3,400 $7,850
Uncontested Divorce Flat fee $430 $1,000 $2,150
Uber Accident Contingency $2,550 $7,650 $28,100
Tax Hourly $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Rideshare Accident Contingency $2,550 $7,650 $28,100
Eviction Flat fee $430 $1,000 $2,550
Employment Contingency $2,150 $8,500 $34,050
Small Claims Flat fee $85 $430 $1,300
Bus Accident Contingency $3,400 $10,200 $38,300
Pardon Flat fee $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Disability Contingency $1,700 $3,400 $7,850
Chapter 13 Flat fee $2,550 $3,400 $5,100
Drunk Driving Accident Contingency $3,400 $12,750 $51,050
Defense Flat fee $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Prenuptial Agreement Flat fee $850 $2,150 $6,400
Auto Dealer Fraud Contingency $2,150 $6,400 $21,300
Guardianship Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $10,200
Closing Flat fee $600 $1,000 $2,150
Social Security Contingency $1,700 $3,400 $7,850
Business Hourly $1,300 $5,100 $21,300
Construction Accident Contingency $10,200 $42,550 $170,200
Alimony Hourly $2,550 $7,650 $21,300
Domestic Violence Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $10,200
Green Card Flat fee $1,700 $3,400 $6,800
Business Litigation Hourly $12,750 $51,050 $212,750
Police Misconduct Contingency $6,800 $34,050 $212,750
K-1 Visa Flat fee $1,300 $2,150 $3,400
Foreclosure Flat fee $1,300 $3,000 $6,400
Annulment Flat fee $850 $2,550 $8,500
Sexual Abuse Contingency $17,000 $72,350 $340,400
Juvenile Flat fee $1,300 $3,000 $8,500
Debt Settlement Contingency $850 $2,550 $6,800
Bad Faith Insurance Contingency $6,800 $25,550 $106,400
Lemon Law Contingency $1,700 $4,250 $12,750
Divorce Mediation Hourly $2,150 $4,700 $10,200
Unpaid Wages Contingency $1,700 $6,800 $29,800
Non-Compete Agreement Flat fee $430 $2,150 $42,550
Consumer Protection Contingency $1,700 $4,250 $12,750
Life Insurance Denial Contingency $6,800 $42,550 $170,200
Personal Loan Hourly $430 $1,700 $4,250
Hostile Work Environment Contingency $3,400 $12,750 $55,300
Wrongful Death Contingency $12,750 $51,050 $212,750
Age Discrimination Contingency $4,250 $17,000 $72,350
Construction Defect Hourly $6,800 $38,300 $170,200
Elder Law Hourly $1,300 $4,250 $10,200
Restraining Order Flat fee $850 $2,150 $6,400
Debt Collection Defense Flat fee $430 $1,300 $4,250
Visitation Hourly $1,300 $4,250 $17,000
Brain Injury Contingency $17,000 $97,850 $425,500
Power of Attorney Flat fee $170 $340 $850
Birth Injury Contingency $85,100 $382,950 $1,276,500
CPS Defense Hourly $2,150 $6,400 $21,300
White Collar Crime Hourly $12,750 $63,850 $340,400
Wrongful Termination Contingency $2,550 $10,200 $38,300
Tenant Hourly $850 $2,150 $5,100
EB-2 NIW Flat fee $3,400 $5,950 $10,200
O-1 Visa Flat fee $3,000 $5,100 $8,500
Name Change Flat fee $260 $640 $2,150
F-1 Student Visa Flat fee $640 $1,550 $4,250
Misdemeanor Flat fee $640 $1,300 $3,000
Gun Charges Flat fee $1,300 $5,100 $63,850
Chapter 11 Hourly $21,300 $63,850 $340,400
Citizenship Flat fee $430 $850 $2,150
Severance Agreement Flat fee $430 $1,000 $4,250
LLC Formation Flat fee $430 $1,000 $2,150
House Purchase Flat fee $680 $1,100 $2,150
IRS Audit Hourly $850 $3,850 $17,000
CDL Ticket Flat fee $340 $770 $2,150
Truck Accident Contingency $4,250 $13,600 $42,550
Defamation Hourly $4,250 $12,750 $42,550
SSI Contingency $850 $2,550 $7,850
Surrogacy Flat fee $3,000 $6,800 $12,750
Probation Violation Flat fee $850 $2,150 $6,400
HOA Hourly $1,300 $3,400 $8,500
Reckless Driving Flat fee $850 $2,150 $4,250
Suspended License Flat fee $640 $1,500 $2,550
Asylum Flat fee $2,550 $5,100 $12,750
Franchise Hourly $1,700 $6,400 $51,050
EB-5 Visa Flat fee $10,200 $21,300 $42,550
Discharge Upgrade Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $8,500
Copyright Flat fee $260 $1,300 $6,400
ERISA Contingency $2,550 $12,750 $63,850
Driving Without a License Flat fee $210 $510 $1,300
Marriage Green Card Flat fee $1,300 $2,550 $6,400
Hit and Run Accident Contingency $2,150 $6,800 $25,550
Overtime Contingency $2,150 $7,650 $34,050
Timeshare Exit Flat fee $1,300 $3,850 $12,750
Fraud Defense Flat fee $2,150 $6,400 $21,300
Civil Lawsuit Hourly $2,550 $12,750 $42,550
Irrevocable Trust Flat fee $2,150 $5,100 $12,750
Property Tax Appeal Contingency $130 $430 $1,700
Slip and Fall Contingency $3,400 $10,200 $34,050
Special Education Hourly $1,700 $6,400 $21,300
Entertainment Hourly $640 $3,000 $21,300
EB-1 Visa Flat fee $4,250 $7,650 $13,600
Special Needs Trust Flat fee $1,700 $3,850 $8,500
Student Loan Flat fee $640 $2,150 $6,800
Civil Rights Violation Contingency $4,250 $21,300 $127,650
Immigration Bond Flat fee $1,300 $2,550 $5,100
Motorcycle Accident Contingency $2,550 $7,650 $25,550
Dog Attack Injury Contingency $2,550 $8,500 $25,550
Insurance Claim Contingency $1,700 $6,400 $21,300
Discrimination Contingency $2,550 $10,200 $38,300
Professional License Defense Hourly $2,150 $6,800 $21,300
Commercial Real Estate Hourly $2,150 $7,650 $38,300
Intellectual Property Flat fee $430 $2,150 $12,750
Security Clearance Flat fee $2,150 $6,400 $17,000
Deportation Hourly $2,550 $6,800 $17,000
Mesothelioma Contingency $42,550 $297,850 $851,000
Trust Administration Hourly $2,150 $5,100 $17,000
Shoplifting Flat fee $640 $1,300 $3,400
Startup Flat fee $2,150 $6,400 $25,550
Burglary Flat fee $3,000 $7,650 $21,300
E-2 Visa Flat fee $3,000 $5,100 $8,500
Partnership Dispute Hourly $17,000 $63,850 $255,300
Mediation Hourly $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Postnuptial Agreement Flat fee $850 $2,550 $7,650
Property Damage Contingency $1,300 $5,100 $17,000
Product Liability Contingency $12,750 $51,050 $212,750
Breach of Contract Hourly $2,550 $17,000 $63,850
Health Insurance Denial Hourly $640 $3,000 $12,750
Paternity Hourly $850 $2,550 $10,200
Debt Collector Harassment Contingency $1,300 $3,400 $12,750
Boundary Dispute Hourly $2,150 $10,200 $38,300
Corporate Hourly $3,000 $10,200 $51,050
Whistleblower Contingency $4,250 $17,000 $85,100
Legal Malpractice Contingency $8,500 $34,050 $127,650
Quiet Title Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $21,300
Construction Hourly $3,000 $21,300 $127,650
Immigration Waiver Flat fee $2,150 $4,250 $8,500
Asset Protection Flat fee $2,550 $6,800 $21,300
Federal Criminal Defense Flat fee $8,500 $29,800 $127,650
Assault Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $12,750
Contract Review Flat fee $260 $680 $2,550
Landlord Hourly $640 $2,550 $12,750
Unemployment Appeal Flat fee $430 $1,000 $3,000
Legal Separation Hourly $2,150 $6,800 $21,300
Deed Transfer Flat fee $210 $510 $1,550
L-1 Visa Flat fee $2,550 $4,700 $7,650
Security Deposit Flat fee $340 $850 $2,550
Custody Modification Hourly $1,550 $5,100 $18,700
Work Permit Flat fee $380 $810 $1,850
Employment Contract Flat fee $510 $1,350 $3,850
Civil Appeal Flat fee $6,800 $18,700 $51,050
Contested Divorce Hourly $8,500 $17,000 $42,550
Wage Garnishment Flat fee $340 $1,050 $3,000
Stepparent Adoption Flat fee $1,300 $2,150 $6,800
Mergers and Acquisitions Hourly $6,400 $21,300 $85,100
Retaliation Contingency $3,850 $13,600 $59,550
Murder Flat fee $21,300 $63,850 $212,750
DACA Flat fee $430 $1,000 $2,550
Mass Tort Contingency $6,800 $29,800 $127,650
Will Contest Hourly $5,100 $21,300 $85,100
Loan Modification Flat fee $640 $1,700 $4,250
Business Sale Flat fee $3,400 $8,100 $25,550
Nonprofit Formation Flat fee $1,300 $3,200 $7,250
Will Flat fee $130 $340 $850
Felony Defense Flat fee $3,000 $8,500 $25,550
Drug Possession Flat fee $1,300 $3,400 $12,750
Theft Flat fee $850 $3,000 $10,200
House Sale Flat fee $680 $1,200 $2,150
Tax Debt Relief Flat fee $850 $3,000 $8,500
Disability Discrimination Contingency $3,000 $11,900 $51,050
Commercial Lease Flat fee $1,000 $3,000 $10,200
Bail Hearing Flat fee $680 $1,900 $4,250
Credit Report Errors Contingency $2,550 $6,400 $23,850
Removal of Conditions Flat fee $850 $1,850 $5,100
Family-Based Petition Flat fee $770 $1,550 $3,400
Hurricane Damage Claim Contingency $3,000 $11,050 $38,300
VA Disability Contingency $1,300 $4,250 $12,750
Long-Term Disability Contingency $2,150 $6,800 $21,300
Nursing Home Abuse Contingency $12,750 $51,050 $170,200
Sexual Harassment Contingency $4,250 $15,300 $63,850
Spinal Cord Injury Contingency $25,550 $127,650 $638,250
Elder Abuse Contingency $10,200 $35,750 $119,150
Drug Trafficking Flat fee $10,200 $34,050 $148,950
Child Support Modification Flat fee $770 $2,050 $5,800
Sex Crime Defense Flat fee $11,900 $40,850 $161,700

Criminal appeal lawyer fees in other Louisiana cities

Compare local criminal appeal attorney fees across Louisiana.

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FAQs - Criminal appeal attorney fees in Houma

Criminal appeal lawyer fees in Houma average about $17,000, with a typical range of $6,400 to $42,550. That is roughly 85% of the U.S. average, adjusted for the local cost of living.

Houma's cost-of-living index is about 85% of the national average, so criminal appeal attorney fees here tend to run 15% lower than the U.S. norm.

The figures here are local averages. For a number tied to your specific situation, request a free match with a criminal appeal attorney in Houma, or enter your ZIP code for a more precise estimate.

We take the national benchmark for criminal appeal cases and adjust it by Houma's cost-of-living index — about 85% of the U.S. average — giving a local Low, Average, and High of $6,400, $17,000, and $42,550.

Houma averages about $17,000 for criminal appeal lawyer fees, compared with roughly $18,200 across Louisiana and $20,000 nationally.

Many criminal appeal attorneys in Houma offer a free initial consultation to review your case before you commit. Check each firm's listing above for details.

Look for a Houma attorney who regularly handles criminal appeal cases, check reviews and their standing with the Louisiana state bar, and use free consultations to compare a few before you decide.

Attorney fees pay for the lawyer's time and skill, while case costs are separate out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, records, and expert witnesses. In a Houma criminal appeal matter, always confirm how the costs are handled alongside the fee.

In Houma, criminal appeal lawyer fees are typically paid as a single flat fee agreed up front. Case costs are usually billed separately from the fee.

For most criminal appeal matters, yes — the right attorney can improve your outcome by more than the fee, and many work on terms that limit your risk. Use a free Houma consultation to weigh it for your situation.

ZIP codes covered

These Houma criminal appeal fee estimates span ZIP code 70360.

Last updated Oct 1, 2026 · Fee figures are local averages for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or a quote. See how we estimate fees.