Frequently Asked Questions

The Evans Law Firm primarily focuses on criminal defense and personal injury matters. Our criminal practice covers felonies and misdemeanors in state and federal courts. Our personal injury practice often involves car accidents, premises liability, and civil rights violations.

In addition to these core areas, we handle construction, contract, and real estate disputes. This broad experience gives us a unique advantage over attorneys with a narrow focus, as we draw insights from multiple legal fields to strengthen every case—especially when a single incident spans different courts.

We have been fortunate to learn from Knoxville's top attorneys and serve hundreds of clients across diverse situations. We strive for deep, up-to-date knowledge of the law in our practice areas, continually learning to deliver the best results.

If we cannot assist you directly, we will help connect you with an attorney who can.

The best way to gauge our values and honesty is to speak with us and our staff. Trusting your attorney is crucial. We take time to discuss your case thoroughly and never rush a contract upon first meeting. Unless it's an emergency, we advise every potential client to sleep on it before deciding. We also encourage consulting other attorneys to ensure the right fit.

We can't demand your trust—it's earned. Ultimately, you'll know after meeting us and making your own determination.

No, in almost every case. We'll clarify any potential costs during our initial discussion or chat.

Depending on the case, our attorneys will travel anywhere in the State of Tennessee.

In civil cases, you may never set foot in a courtroom. Much of the work occurs in our office—responding to discovery requests or attending depositions where the other side questions you. Parties aren't required (and often don't) attend hearings on legal arguments. That said, we don't avoid trials, and you'll still need to be involved, including likely attending depositions.

In criminal cases, defendants must appear at nearly every court date, with few exceptions. If charged, plan for multiple court appearances.

Most cases never attract media attention or appear online. However, if arrested, your mugshot may be scraped by unscrupulous websites that night. Some attempt to extort payments to remove it—though Google and credit card companies have pushed these sites down search rankings and restricted payments, they persist.

We believe publicity generally harms more than helps, and we rarely seek the spotlight for clients. That said, we've handled media inquiries around some cases in the past.

In civil matters, complaints are public record. Media may cover compelling stories, but attention often fades after an initial report.

The cost of representation varies based on several factors, with the type of case being the most significant.

For criminal cases, we typically charge a flat fee for the entire representation, which varies widely depending on the client's criminal history, offense level, and case merits.

In personal injury matters, we work on contingency—taking a percentage of any recovery—with no upfront costs. We cover all related expenses, such as filing fees, expert witnesses, and depositions. Hourly billing is available as an option.

For general civil litigation, we bill at competitive hourly rates that reflect our skill and experience.

An arrest warrant requires issuance and signature by a judicial magistrate or judge, establishing probable cause that a crime occurred and identifying the suspect. It's a formal process for custody, typically involving police arrest.

In contrast, a citation is issued for misdemeanor offenses without arrest, such as speeding tickets or simple possession charges. It includes a court appearance date and demands the same seriousness as a warrant.

In both scenarios, you're formally charged with a criminal offense and must defend yourself.

You have the right to an attorney—always exercise it.

In Tennessee, felonies and misdemeanors represent two levels of criminal offenses, differing primarily in severity, penalties, and long-term consequences.

Misdemeanors

These are minor crimes with a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days in jail, plus fines. Examples include drug possession, theft, and underage alcohol possession. While less serious than felonies, they can still lead to jail time, fines, and a criminal record.

Felonies

Felonies are major crimes punishable by 1 year to life in prison, often with substantial fines. A conviction has profound, lifelong impacts: it remains on your record permanently, affecting job applications; and it may revoke rights to vote, hold public office, own firearms, or access federal student loans. Examples include aggravated assault, drug trafficking, robbery, and sexual assault.

Tennessee classifies felonies into five categories, each with escalating penalties:

There are five different “classes” of felonies in Tennessee: A, B, C, D, and E.

Felony Classifications in TN

Class A – These are the most serious felonies and can be punishable by death or life in prison.

Class B – Punishable by 8 to 30 years of jail time and extensive fines.

Class C – Punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Class D – Punishable by 2 to 12 years imprisonment and fines up to $5,000. Class E – These are the least serious felonies and are punishable by 1 to 6 years imprisonment and fines up to $3,000.[1]

No matter the charge, consulting an attorney early is essential to potentially avoid conviction, incarceration, or a lasting public record. Contact us to discuss your situation.

[1] Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111

In Tennessee, "bail" and "bond" are often used interchangeably but describe distinct ways to secure pretrial release from jail.

Bail is the full amount set by the court to ensure your return for hearings. Posting cash bail means paying the entire sum upfront (by you or on your behalf). If you attend all appearances, it's typically refunded minus fees; failure to appear forfeits it.

Bond involves a licensed bail bondsman posting the bail for you. You pay a non-refundable premium (usually 10-20% of the bail) plus possible collateral. The bondsman guarantees the full amount to the court. If you appear, no further payment is due; otherwise, they can pursue the full bail from you or your collateral.

In Tennessee, judicial diversion offers eligible first-time offenders a chance to avoid a formal conviction after a guilty plea or finding of guilt. The court defers judgment, placing you on probation with conditions. Successful completion leads to dismissal of charges and potential expungement, giving you a clean slate.

Eligibility requires:

• No prior convictions or diversions.

• The offense is a misdemeanor punishable by jail time or a Class C, D, or E felony.

• The crime is non-violent.

We can assess your specific situation to determine if diversion is a viable option.

If you're facing charges and hoping for future expungement, prioritize securing strong legal representation to fight for the best possible outcome.

In Tennessee, expunging a conviction is limited and rare. Only select offenses qualify under narrow conditions, guided by state statutes (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101). Expungement is generally available for charges that were dismissed, resulted in a not guilty verdict, or were reversed on appeal. It's also possible after successfully completing pretrial or judicial diversion programs, where no formal conviction is entered.

Expungement is unavailable for violent crimes, sexual offenses, those involving coercion or dishonesty, or use of a deadly weapon.

We've successfully helped numerous clients expunge dismissed charges or qualifying convictions. Contact us to evaluate your case and leverage our experience.