Defending California DUI - CA Drunk Driving

If you have no money to hire an attorney, you may qualify for a court-appointed attorney (public defender). You are eligible for a public defender only if you are considered indigent. Indigent means you and your spouse’s combined income and assets are below a certain level.

But you should know that you might have to pay all or a portion of the fee for this attorney. The judge requires you to fill in a detailed financial disclosure form. Then the court evaluates your financial condition according to its rules. Just because you don’t have enough money right now to pay an attorney doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay anything.