I was involved in a very long custody battle and I was told by my Lawyer that I would have a chance to get my child back. I kept spending money and racking up a bill with him, but He never got me any more visitation, rights, or lowered my child support. I now owe him About $20,000 and I just don't have it right now (especially with all the childsupport I now have to pay.) Does anyone know what he can do to me as far as Leins on my house, garnishing my wages, etc.... If it helps, I live in Texas ( laws for this may be different in every state.. i dunno?)
2007-06-16 04:23:23 · 8 answers · asked by CuppyCake07 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
by "pay him back" I mean paying off the remainder of my balance which is $20,000.
2007-06-16 04:39:22 · update #1
$20k and he accomplished nothing? If he was working on child support he knows your financial situation so he still let you get that far in the hole? Sounds like he milked you and you should have changed lawyers long ago. If he let you get that far he knows he will get it somehow.
Yes he can freeze your accounts, put a lien on your house and will start by garnishing your wages which in most states is %30 of your actual take home. Plus the same percentage of whatever you contribute to your 401k. In the state I live it is very difficult to force a person to sell their house....... the person gets the money when you sell. Meanwhile whatever the case you would be racking up interest and your credit would be screwed.
The best thing to do is to set up some sort of payment plan to get started. And make sure you get it in writing if the lawyer agrees to it and don't let him intimidate you.
You own a house so you may consider just getting a loan now before your credit gets messed up. If you can of course. Whatever the case may be you should at some point ask for copies of documents filed on your behalf. The lawyer may balk at this because he may be thinking that you are going to sue him but make nice and he will give them to you.
The main reason you want the copies is in case you decide to make another run at this with another lawyer someday. That way the new lawyer won't have to charge you to duplicate what has already been tried and will have the full picture. That way it won't cost another 20K.
2007-06-16 04:50:20 · answer #1 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was he aware of your financial situation while representing you or did you present yourself as having the money to pay him? If he knew you were not going to be able to pay and still kept wracking up bills, then the bills are his responsibility. If you feel that he did good work for you, try to work something out. If you feel that he is just trying to squeeze money out of you for doing nothing, then file a complaint with the Texas Bar Association. They will review his conduct and determine whether he has violated any ethics rules. If you told him that you would be able to pay him and made any presentation that you could pay him, then you have left yourself open to liens, garnishment, suit, etc, but your lawyer still is bound by the Bar's ethics rules, so do no allow him to threaten or intimidate you. Try your best to work it out, unless you feel that he has not been honest with you or represented you to the best of his ability, then file a complaint with the Texas Bar.
2007-06-16 11:46:05 · answer #2 · answered by robertm_29402 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes he can do all of those things that the others have stated but as long as you pay him he won't. Lawyers aren't like people say they are. He can set up a payment plan with you. As long as you follow his orders and pay him the money you owe him you shouldn't have anything to worry about. :) Good Luck!
2007-06-16 12:22:11 · answer #3 · answered by Jay Dee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most lawyers wont sue you to recover b/c it makes their malpractice insurance go way up. Any time a lawyer is involved in a suit it raises the insurance, even if it is not their fault.
You should call and arrange a payment plan though.
2007-06-16 18:13:48 · answer #4 · answered by CBJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He can freeze your assets, garnish your wages, etc. Most will set up a payment plan for you.
2007-06-16 11:30:04 · answer #5 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get another sh#tbag lawyer to file bankruptcy on your current pile of crap lawyer. Who did nothing but mislead you in order to milk you dry. Lawyers are the scum of the earth, and I love it when they get screwed!
2007-06-16 11:42:53 · answer #6 · answered by Sparky 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He could sue you, take you to small claims court, stop working on your case.
2007-06-16 11:27:36 · answer #7 · answered by ALASPADA 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
By "pay him back" you mean pay him for his work.
2007-06-16 11:30:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋