ok, so I got a divorce like a year ago, and my lawyer told me that she was going to charge me 3,500 of course I ended up paying her 1,700 more!! and today (a year later) they called my from her office saying that I owe $800 more, and I looked at a statement and it says that for every call I made she charged me $62 and for everytime I went see here it was $210 and she never mention that to me, and for every copy and postage she also charged me! Is that how that works with a divorce lawyer? or she is really ripping me off?
2007-10-03 04:44:16 · 16 answers · asked by Luna 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Unfortunately, yes this is how they work. I had a lawyer retained to deal with a custody matter. The lawyer that I was working with left the firm, without any notification to me. Everytime a phone call was made, regardless of origin, and regardless of person (could be the secretary or assistant), I was charged. I was just trying to get the retention returned since the case was done, and they used all of these same tactics to keep the money. The will also charge for any time spent on writing letters. It's really hard to get around any part of it.
2007-10-03 04:56:33 · answer #1 · answered by T 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You might tell her that she originally told you it would cost only $3500.00 and that you have paid way more than that already.
If your divorce is not final yet you could end up owing her a lot more. Every time an attorney talks to you or to anyone else on your behalf you are charged their hourly rate. They have machines that they click on the minute they start talking.
Tell her you require a itemization of the time she is billing you for. Of course she will charge you for the time it takes to make the bill up plus the postage to mail it to you.
Attorney's are well schooled in the ways they can extract money from you. You should have asked for a set price. Sounds like you gave her a retainer and she is dragging everything out until she feels she's made as much as she can possibly make from you. They're good at that too
When she thinks the well is about to run dry she'll cut you loose, whether she's finished the job or not. By then she'll have some finale charges you will have to pay or you won't get your divorce papers.
If you feel she is not treating you right you can always go to the Bar Asociation in your state and file a complaint.
2007-10-03 05:07:23 · answer #2 · answered by From Yours Trully 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, well my divorce only cost me like $800. Most lawyers charge a retainer fee which I assume is the 3,500. The retainer fee is suppose to cover most of the charges, unless unusual circumstances arise. I would possibly go speak to another lawyer and ask them if this seems right. I am not totally sure, but it sounds a little fishy to me.
2007-10-03 04:55:38 · answer #3 · answered by gofigure 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have a written attorney-client contract that spells out the terms of her representation, including the charges. If you do not, she can charge you what is reasonable for divorce attorneys to charge in your area. I would suggest that you write a letter saying that you feel she is overcharging you and offering a settlement. Many attorneys bill "minimum time" which means you will be billed a .25 of an hour no matter if the call is ten seconds. If that adds up to a lot of time it may be worth asking for a partial credit.
2007-10-03 04:51:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got involved in a "palimony" suit against my late mother's estate. The lawyer I hired billed me for $19,000 in just two months! He kept telling me I had a good case, then said he would file a motion to have the case dismissed, leading me to believe the end was just around the corner. I fired him and found a realtor who recommended his lawyer. He settled the whole mess for about $4,000. He told me the first lawyer blew up the case and soaked me. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. It's a shame that auto mechanics' billing practices are better regulated than lawyers. I guess its because judges and politicians are lawyers themselves.
2016-05-30 10:39:54 · answer #5 · answered by Waynes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im sure when you signed a retainer agreement it had her per hour charge on there. Talking to clients on the phone and office visits are work for an attorney. How else would they know the facts of your case?
2007-10-03 05:20:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course she mentioned to you that she bills by the hour.
In any case, she has been sending you statements - didn't you look a them?
Are you happy you are divorced now? Then you should be happy with the services you purchased to get yourself there.
2007-10-03 04:51:13 · answer #7 · answered by Barry C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, lawyers rip off their clients in every way possible. Check your fee agreement for whether the $3500 was a flat fee or just a down payment, with unlimited fees to come.
2007-10-03 04:51:31 · answer #8 · answered by Flatpaw 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
between own injury attorneys in manhattan, who artwork on a contingency, a million/3 is with regard to the norm. you're additionally unfastened to pay him by ability of the hour, as you go, win or lose, and then save regardless of you get.
2016-10-06 00:56:21 · answer #9 · answered by threat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does the original contract for representation state as to hourly billing?
2007-10-03 04:50:53 · answer #10 · answered by hexeliebe 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋