When you speak, I guarantee you will be heard
Zacarese & Zalewski P.C.
Flat Fee Juvenile Criminal Matters
Call now: 516-660-4354
When your child is accused of a crime, the response in the first weeks shapes their future. Steven Zalewski, Esq. defends juvenile delinquency cases in Suffolk County for a $5,000 flat fee, fixed in writing before work begins.
"He didn't just win my case. He gave me back my future, my peace of mind, and my ability to breathe again."
From the very first conversation, he changed everything. He didn't just see a case, he saw me, and treated me like family. His knowledge of the law was unmatched, but what truly set him apart was his humanity. If you are looking for a lawyer, stop searching right now.
Flat-Fee Juvenile Defense in Suffolk County Family Court
A phone call from a school resource officer or a precinct is every parent's nightmare. In New York, most accusations against children are handled not in criminal court but as juvenile delinquency proceedings under Article 3 of the Family Court Act, a system built around rehabilitation, where the right defense can keep one bad decision from defining a young life.
Zacarese & Zalewski P.C. defends juveniles throughout Suffolk County for a $5,000 flat fee covering all pre-trial work. When your child's future is at stake, the last variable you should be managing is your lawyer's hourly meter.
Flat-Fee Pricing · Suffolk County Family Court
Juvenile Delinquency Defense (FCA Article 3): $5,000 Flat Fee
Pre-Trial Flat Fee
$5,000
One fee, fixed in writing before any work begins. Covers filings, conferences, negotiations and court appearances within scope, no hourly meter.
Trial Fee: Only If Needed
$7,500
Applies only if your child's case proceeds to a contested fact-finding hearing. Quoted in writing from day one; due 30 days before.
Fee fixed in writing before any work begins. Third-party expenses (filing fees, process servers, transcripts, experts) are separate.
How Juvenile Cases Differ From Criminal Court
Juvenile delinquency cases involve youth who allegedly commit acts that would be crimes if committed by an adult. The vocabulary is different (a petition instead of an indictment, a fact-finding hearing instead of a trial, a disposition instead of a sentence) and so are the stakes: the focus is supervision, treatment, and services rather than punishment. Since New York's Raise the Age reforms, most 16- and 17-year-olds are also treated within this youth-focused framework rather than as adults. Juvenile records are confidential, and favorable outcomes can keep a young person's record effectively clean.
The Stages That Decide These Cases
Many cases can be resolved before a petition is ever filed, through adjustment and diversion at the probation intake stage: counseling, community service, or restitution in exchange for closing the case. Once a petition is filed by the presentment agency, the case moves through an initial appearance, discovery and suppression motions (statements taken from minors without proper parental notification are a frequent battleground), then fact-finding and disposition. At disposition, outcomes range from an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal to probation or, in serious cases, placement, which is exactly what a strong defense works to avoid.
A Parent's Role, and a Lawyer's
Do not let your child give a statement before speaking with counsel; what seems like "clearing things up" often becomes the presentment agency's best evidence. Early advocacy at probation intake is frequently the single highest-leverage moment in the entire case, and it is fully covered by the flat fee.
What Your Flat Fee Covers
Everything below is included in the pre-trial flat fee, spelled out in a plain-English written retainer before any work begins.
✓Direct Attorney Access
Immediate guidance from the first police contact, before any statement is given. Every call covered.
✓Probation Intake & Diversion
Advocacy at the adjustment stage aimed at resolving the case before a petition is ever filed.
✓Motions & Suppression
Challenging statements and searches involving your child, including Family Court Act §305.2 violations.
✓All Pre-Trial Appearances
Every appearance and conference in Suffolk County Family Court, handled personally.
✓School Consequences
Guidance on the parallel school disciplinary process, including suspension hearings.
✓Disposition Advocacy
Pressing for outcomes built on services and dismissal, not placement, with a plan the judge can trust.
Transparent Rates by Case Type
| Case Type | Pre-Trial Flat Fee | Trial Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Child Support (FCA Art. 4) | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Orders of Protection (FCA Art. 8) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Neglect (FCA Art. 10) | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| All Others (Paternity, Custody, Family Offense, Grandparent Custody, etc.) THIS CASE TYPE | $5,000 | $7,500 |
Pre-trial covers all work before testimony begins: filings, conferences, negotiations, and appearances within scope. If your matter proceeds to trial or a contested hearing, the trial fee applies to preparation and the hearing itself, and is due 30 days before the scheduled date. Third-party expenses (filing fees, process servers, transcripts, experts) are separate.
Flat Fee vs. Hourly Billing
Our Approach
Flat Fee
- Your full cost is agreed in writing before any work begins.
- Call or email your attorney freely; no clock running.
- One pre-trial fee, no matter how many appearances your case takes.
- Our incentive: resolve your case efficiently, in your favor.
The Common Way
Hourly Billing
- Cost unknown until the bill arrives.
- Hesitation to call because every minute is billable.
- Retainer drained, replenished, drained again.
- Surprise add-ons for filings, copies and minor tasks.
Flat-Fee FAQ
Will my child have a criminal record?
Juvenile delinquency proceedings are confidential, and an adjudication is not a criminal conviction. With diversion, dismissal, or an ACD, most young people come out with no lasting record, which is the outcome we build toward from day one.
What should we do in the first 48 hours?
Politely decline to have your child questioned, take nothing at face value, and call us. Early intervention at probation intake can resolve many cases before they ever reach a courtroom, all within the flat fee.
Does the $5,000 flat fee cover the whole case?
It covers all pre-trial work within the retainer's scope: intake advocacy, filings, motions, conferences, and appearances. If the case proceeds to a contested fact-finding hearing, a $7,500 trial fee applies, disclosed in writing before we start.
My child is 16. Family Court or criminal court?
Under Raise the Age, most cases involving 16- and 17-year-olds are handled in the youth system, though serious felonies follow special procedures. We assess the specific charge immediately and tell you exactly what track the case is on.
When you speak, I guarantee you will be heard
One Mistake Shouldn't Define Your Child's Future
A $5,000 flat fee covers the entire pre-trial defense of your child's juvenile case in Suffolk County, from probation intake to the courthouse steps.
Call · 516-660-4354Fast call-backs, often the same day. Next-day court appearances are often possible.
Contact Steven Zalewski, Esq.
Call: 516-660-4354
Office: (516) 377-7830
Email: steve@zandzfamilylawyers.com
Address: 1601 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 500, Islandia, NY 11749
Learn More
Disclaimer
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every family's situation is different, and court procedures change. Flat-fee amounts describe our standard fee structure; your written retainer agreement controls the scope and fee for your specific matter. Consult a qualified attorney about your case.
i guarantee you will be heard
Ready to Take the Next Step?
At Zacarese & Zalewski P.C., when something isn’t right, say something—and we’ll do something about it with you.
Our flat-fee structure is clear: one flat fee for pre-trial work, and a trial fee only if your case goes to trial or a hearing. Call now and a professional will return your call quickly; if we miss you, we'll call back the same day.
