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Zacarese & Zalewski P.C.

Flat Fee PINS Petitions

Call now: 516-660-4354

When a teenager is beyond control (truancy, running away, defiance), a PINS case may be the path to real help. Steven Zalewski, Esq. guides Suffolk County families through PINS proceedings for a $5,000 flat fee.

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Flat-Fee PINS Representation in Suffolk County

Every parent of a struggling teenager knows the feeling: nothing is working. Skipped school, disappearing overnight, escalating defiance, and no obvious place to turn. New York's answer is the PINS process ("Person In Need of Supervision") under Article 7 of the Family Court Act, which connects families of youth under 18 to supervision and services rather than punishment.

Zacarese & Zalewski P.C. guides Suffolk County families through PINS matters for a $5,000 flat fee, whether you are a parent considering a petition or your child is the subject of one filed by a school district. Getting a teen real help should not come with an unpredictable bill on top of everything else.

Flat-Fee Pricing · Suffolk County Family Court

PINS Petitions (FCA Article 7): $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 the PINS matter proceeds to a contested hearing. Quoted in writing from day one; due 30 days before.

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Fee fixed in writing before any work begins. Third-party expenses (filing fees, process servers, transcripts, experts) are separate.

What a PINS Case Is, and Isn't

A PINS proceeding is not a criminal case. It addresses behavior that would not be a crime for an adult: habitual truancy, chronic disobedience of parents or school authorities, running away, curfew violations, or certain substance use. Petitions may be filed by parents or guardians, school officials, or others with a legitimate interest in the child's welfare. The purpose is structure and services (counseling, mediation, mentoring, educational support), not a record that follows the child.

Diversion Comes First: By Law

Before any PINS petition reaches a judge, the county's diversion services must attempt to resolve the situation, and Suffolk County's probation department leads that effort. Diversion can include family counseling, school-based interventions, respite programs, and community services, and most cases resolve here, without a courtroom. If diversion is exhausted and a petition proceeds, the court can order supervision and services; New York law strongly disfavors removing PINS youth from their homes, and detention is not an option for PINS-only cases.

Where a Lawyer Changes the Outcome

For parents, we make sure a PINS filing is the right tool, and not a doorway to unintended CPS scrutiny of your household, while pushing the county to actually deliver the services your family needs. When a school district files against your child, we protect your child's educational rights and press for supports rather than escalation. And because PINS behavior sometimes overlaps with juvenile delinquency allegations, having one attorney who handles both (see our juvenile defense practice) keeps the strategy coherent.

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

Talk through each development (school meetings, probation calls, new incidents) with no billing meter.

✓Right-Tool Assessment

Straight advice on whether PINS, school-based supports, or another path best fits your teenager's situation.

✓Diversion Advocacy

Active engagement with Suffolk County probation to secure meaningful services during mandatory diversion.

✓Petition or Response

Drafting a parent's PINS petition, or defending your child against one filed by a school district.

✓All Pre-Trial Appearances

Every Family Court conference and routine appearance, handled personally.

✓Service Plan Oversight

Pressing for concrete, funded services in any order, and enforcement when the county falls short.

Transparent Rates by Case Type

Transparent Flat-Fee 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 a PINS case give my child a record?

No criminal record. PINS proceedings are civil and confidential, aimed at services and supervision. Handled well, the process ends with supports in place and nothing following your child into adulthood.

Can my child be taken from our home through PINS?

New York law strongly disfavors out-of-home placement in PINS cases and prohibits secure detention for PINS-only behavior. Our advocacy is aimed at keeping the child home with real supports around the family.

The school district filed a PINS petition about my child's attendance. Should I worry?

Take it seriously, attendance cases can spiral into broader scrutiny of your household. We defend the case, address the underlying school issues, and keep the focus on services rather than blame. The $5,000 flat fee covers it all pre-trial.

What if diversion doesn't work?

Then the case proceeds in Family Court, where a judge can order supervision and services. If a contested hearing becomes necessary, the $7,500 trial fee applies, disclosed in writing before we ever begin.

When you speak, I guarantee you will be heard

Get Your Teenager Help, Without a Meter Running

One $5,000 flat fee covers your family's entire pre-trial PINS case in Suffolk County, from diversion through every court conference.

Call · 516-660-4354

Fast 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

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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.

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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.

Call · 516-660-4354

Talk to a professional today. Fast call-backs.

Learn About Flat Fees

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