I live in small town...and I consulted a legal assistant who gave me misinformation.
I think my spouse actually talked to her before I was able to go down to see her.
She made 2 comments that my husband is trying to use against me.
She told me that georgia is a "Community property state" which is false
And she made a comment about yelling as a parent...which is what my husband is trying to claim proves me a bad parent.
I think the legal assistant took my consultation to see what my arguement would be in the divorce. I disclosed some very hidden information and stuff my husband is doing.
Can this legal office be held accountable for taking my consultation after first hearing my wifes side?
Or is it just sneaky tactics that are inethical.
Hidden accounts hidden emails hidden money are what I told her I knew about.
Now my husband might know and adjust his secretive lifestyle.
What can I do?
2007-12-26 17:22:16 · 7 answers · asked by Back on the market 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Georgia is an EQUITABLE STATE
other lawyer has just informed me..as do all websites and the Ga Law website for division of marital assets
2007-12-26 19:27:25 · update #1
Get yourself an attorney and contact the local bar association regarding this other attorney.
Then be a better parent to your child(ren).
Good luck.
2007-12-26 17:29:01 · answer #1 · answered by box of rain 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Legal Assistants cannot give legal advice because they are not a lawyer. Legal Assistants can be held accountable for giving any legal advice . People who are real legal assistants know that they could get into legal troubles doing this ... however, the assistant may be just in the form of a secretary - you would need to know her legal status.
Each different State has different guidelines.
Any .. and all .. information given in an attorney's office is confidential ... the same as with doctors .. it is confidential.
Lawyer, and Legal Assistants are held accountable for unehtical things ... in fact, a board of ehtics is in existance for such things.
In your above statement .. you say a couple of things which are confusing .. and seem to indicate this is the wife .. then the husband ... however, did the attorney's office take on the first person, as a client, who first talked to the attorney? If this law office did take the first person on as their client .. then they definitely show NOT have taken personal information from the 2nd person.
Without a doubt - you should contact this attorney, and tell the attorney of the wrong information given to you by the legal assistant ... and of the information given to you. You should also voice any other complaints. The attorney may not be aware. If the attorney does not give you the answers you need ... you can contact legal boards with your complaint against the law office .. and the legal assistance. There are legal discipline boards in every State.
Below .. are some of the legal assistants code of ethics .. which both the legal assistant .. and the attorney which the legal assistant works for .. is both held accountable for.
PARALEGAL DIVISION OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS
Paralegal Code of Ethics
Canon 1 A paralegal shall not engage in the practice of law as defined by statutes or court decisions, including but
not limited to accepting cases or clients, setting fees, giving legal advice or appearing in a representative
capacity in court or before an administrative or regulatory agency (unless otherwise authorized by statute,
court of agency rules): the paralegal shall assist in preventing the unauthorized practice of law.
Canon 2 A paralegal shall not perform any of the duties that attorneys only may perform or do things which
themselves may not do.
Canon 3 A paralegal shall exercise care in using independent professional judgment and in determining the extentto which a client may be assisted without the presence of any attorney, and shall not act in matters involving professional legal judgment.
Canon 4 A paralegal shall preserve and protect the confidences and secrets of a client.
Canon 5 A paralegal shall not solicit legal business on behalf of an attorney.
Canon 6 A paralegal shall not engage in performing paralegal functions other than under the direct supervision of
an attorney, and shall not advertise or contract with members of the general public for the performance of paralegal functions.
Canon 7 A paralegal shall avoid, if at all possible, any interest or association which constitutes a conflict of interest
pertaining to a client matter and shall inform the supervising attorney of the existence of any possible conflict.
Canon 8 A paralegal shall maintain a high standard of ethical conduct and shall contribute to the integrity of the
paralegal profession.
Canon 9 A paralegal shall maintain a high degree of competency to better assist the legal profession in fulfilling its
duty to provide quality legal services to the public.
Canon 10 A paralegal shall do all other things incidental, necessary or expedient to enhance professional
responsibility and the participation of paralegals in the administration of justice and public service in
cooperation with the legal profession.
2007-12-26 18:15:31 · answer #2 · answered by Tara 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FIRST, Georgia IS a community property state. I have lived here for 20+ years and if it isn't then they have changed the law since I got divorced.
Second, this is definitely unethical if not illegal. Consult your own attorney and report this information to the Bar Association. They can bring charges against the attorney. There is such a thing as attorney/client privilege that has been violated if she told your husband any information you told her in confidence as your attorney.
2007-12-26 17:53:48 · answer #3 · answered by baseballdad69 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very illegal and contact the bar association to report the whole office and have this office recuse themselves from representing your husband, oh and by the way even the best parents get frustrated and yell once in a while, not the best but not horrible either, when we do it we always want to kick ourselves later for losing our cool and not behaving like the adult, we usually beat ourselves up enough about it without others doing it for us, just try not to, and if he is hiding things and accounts he is really a jerk for a parent, as every child deserves support from both parents, and he is being a dirt bag for doing that type of thing, make sure you have copies of all his info, social security, drivers license numbers, and any other numbers and licenses you can think of so you can help track down his assets, good luck
2007-12-26 17:42:26 · answer #4 · answered by Dale T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is against the law for a lawyer to consult with both of you on the same or other matters. You can call the law board in your state and report this. Even if you talked to them on a whole different matter they can not talk to her or vise a versa.
2007-12-27 04:04:07 · answer #5 · answered by Susan W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why in the worldwide could you spend a DIME on an uncontested divorce...Uncontested skill you the two agree on all seen, you may desire to recent the needed varieties required and crammed out then they deliver you to a mediator to make constructive that's what you the two desire and then a date is desperate for the decide to furnish the divorce. Do your self a desire and DO IT your self!!!!! you're actually not struggling with over something and desire a sparkling injury, you do no longer desire a criminal expert to take your money to do what you're able to do on my own.
2016-10-09 05:43:04 · answer #6 · answered by ashwini 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Illegal.
2007-12-26 17:25:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋