Are there statutory limitations for legal fees and/or expenses?
• A. The statutory limit for legal fees is $3,000; for expense it is $1,500. Both can be exceeded by the court order at the Judges discretion. In the event that the fees and expenses are in excess of statutory limits, PDS advises that appointed counsel contact the presiding Judge for approval prior to service. PDS does not require separate orders to exceed the statutory limit and to approve the actual amount payable. If an order sets forth the amount to be paid, PDS assumes the judge has found good cause to exceed the limits. For more information concerning vouchers and how to bill click here to go to the Voucher Information page. To send an inquiry to Public Defender Services, click here.
