I have a question,my attorney has charged up an astronomical bill of $20,000 case is over, I've paid $4000.
my case was to increase child support 12 yrs later,well I got my increase of $100.I even had to hire a forensic accountant costing me $2000.more. now this attorney is sending me bills over $20,000. what can I do?? can he get a lean against my home? I own it w/ my husband which he had no part of legal dealings.what can this attorney do?I feel after paying $6000. for his paralegal to do all the work,all he did was was go to court 1 day and sign his name. can anyone help me ?
Answers:
One of the main things when it comes to professional ethics for attorney's and that is to be up front about what the cost and fee will be. Of course the cost may change over the course of the action, but the fee should not be a big surprise when it comes.
If the lawyer did not tell you what the fee would be before hand you should go to the Bar of your state and report him. What he is doing is unethical and the Bar will sanction him.
Ask for an itemized invoice if you do not have one. It should have the date each service was performed, a description of the service performed, the time charged and the hourly rate.
Also, what was your discussion or agreement with the lawyer about the fee? Does the bill vary from it?
After reviewing it you can take it up with the State Bar Association fee dispute resolution division.
let me see if i understand this...you went to court to get 100$ more a month from a deadbeat dad?
even if you got back pay for 12 years that's only &14,400.
sounds like you made a bad economic choice. were you really wanting the money or were you just wanting to punish the deadbeat?
the lawyer can charge whatever you agreed to when you retained his services. and yes his paralegal's work also counts as the law firms work. a lot more work is spent on a case outside the office than in the courtroom.
hes a lawyer. he makes his living suing people that want money. now he wants money. of course he can and may sue you, and if the court finds in his favor and orders you to pay then anything that is legally in your name can be liquidated to pay your bill if you don't have the assets to pay. there is, however, always bankruptcy which would protect your house from collectors, but bankruptcy is much harder to file these days and will NOT protect you from a court ordered settlement.
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