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The ProcessHow it works, start to finish
Most people have never been arrested before and have no idea what happens next. Here is the whole sequence, including the deadline that is already running.
Two cases, not one
A Missouri DWI arrest starts two separate proceedings that run at the same time and are decided by different people. Your criminal case is in court. Your driver’s license is with the Department of Revenue, which acts on its own regardless of what happens in court — Missouri law says explicitly that the disposition of the criminal charge does not affect the administrative suspension. The license track has a 15-day deadline. That is why the first call matters.
Six steps
You call, and we actually talk about your case
Not an intake screener reading a script. You speak with Andy or Chris. Bring your citation, your Form 2385 notice if you were given one, and the date of arrest. The consultation is free and confidential whether or not you hire us.
We tell you what you are actually facing
Which court, what the charge level is, whether prior offenses put you in a different tier, what the license exposure looks like, and what the realistic range of outcomes is. If your case is straightforward enough that you do not need us, we say that.
You get your flat fee, in writing
A specific number, with a written scope showing what it covers and what it does not. You take it away and think about it. Nothing is signed under pressure in the room.
We protect the license deadline immediately
If you retain us inside the 15-day window, filing the administrative hearing request is the first thing that happens — typically the same day. For refusal cases the route is different: a petition for review filed in the circuit court of the county where you were stopped. Both are time-barred, and neither is recoverable once missed.
We work the case
Entry of appearance, discovery, and a real review of it: the basis for the stop, how field sobriety testing was administered, the maintenance and calibration record on the breath instrument, whether the operator held a valid permit, whether the 20-minute attorney-contact right was honored and whether that consultation was actually private. Then negotiation with the prosecutor, motions where the facts support them, and trial if that is the right call.
We finish the job, including what comes after
Resolution is not the last step. There is SATOP, possibly interlock, the reinstatement sequence, and the SR-22 requirement. We tell you the order to do them in, because doing them out of order is how people end up suspended a second time over paperwork.
What the calendar looks like
Every case is different, and courts move at their own pace. This is the ordinary shape of a first-offense case rather than a promise about yours.
| When | Criminal case | License track |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Arrest, citation issued with a first court date | Officer issues Form 2385 and a 15-day temporary driving permit |
| Days 1–15 | Retain counsel, entry of appearance filed | Hearing request must be received or postmarked. For refusals, a petition for review is filed in circuit court |
| Weeks 2–8 | Discovery requested and reviewed; first court appearance | If a hearing was requested, the suspension is stayed pending the outcome |
| Months 2–6 | Negotiation with the prosecutor; suppression motions where supported | Administrative hearing held; restricted or limited driving privilege applied for if needed |
| Months 4–12 | Resolution by plea, dismissal, or trial | Suspension or revocation period runs; interlock installed where required |
| After | Probation conditions completed; expungement eligibility begins at 10 years for a qualifying first offense | SATOP completed, $45 reinstatement fee paid, SR-22 maintained for two years |
Municipal cases often resolve faster than state charges. Felony cases take considerably longer. A trial setting can add months.
What we need from you
- Your citation and any paperwork the officer gave you, especially Form 2385
- The date, time and location of the stop
- An honest account of the night, including anything unflattering — we cannot defend around a fact we learn about from the prosecutor
- Any prior DWI, DUI or alcohol-related traffic matter anywhere, including municipal cases you may not think of as convictions
- Whether you hold or need a commercial driver’s license
Get your flat fee before you decide anything else.
A free, confidential consultation with Andy or Chris. You will leave knowing what you are charged with, what your license deadline is, and exactly what our fee would be to handle it.
Free · Confidential · No obligation