dispute it - a layman's guide on how to get an attorney refund & file a bar grievance reviews

by Nedra Turcotte 8 min read

Can I get a refund for attorney fees?

Apr 09, 2015 · If you have pre-paid or overpaid your attorney, then that accounting should include a refund. It’s reasonable to expect an accounting of the financial side of your case within 30 days of the end of the attorney-client relationship, so if you don’t have it by then, ask your attorney for a detailed accounting, and make sure to put the request in writing.

Can I get a refund if my lawyer quits?

Feb 04, 2019 · I have gotten refunds and wrote Dispute It – A Layman’s Guide for How to Get an Attorney Refund & File a Bar Grievance to help others. We have a trial next week and think we might finally get justice in family court. We hired the best attorney in the area and think the latest Motion to Enforce is the most frivolous one ever filed.

How do I dispute a lawyer's fee dispute?

If talking with your attorney about a fee dispute fails to solve the problem, you can request fee arbitration: Fee arbitration is an out-of-court hearing in which a sole arbitrator (or a panel of lawyers and nonlawyers) not involved in the dispute will listen to what you and your lawyer have to say, examine the fee agreement, the attorney’s performance and supporting records, and reach …

How do I dispute a bill for clerical services?

Nov 12, 2015 · Look for an attorney who is experienced in handling attorney's fees disputes. Make copies of any documents related to the fee dispute to take with you to the hearing. You also might want to write notes for yourself regarding the items in your bill you dispute and your reasons for disputing them, so you can present your case in an organized fashion.

How the family court fails to protect women

1. Contempt of Court: If a man fails to pay child support or defies a portion of the court-ordered divorce decree, there is the ability to “petition the court for contempt.” The only problem, it will cost you attorney fees to do so, and rarely is a defendant held responsible when found “in contempt.”

About the Author

Cathy is a Master Certified Relationship Coach and a certified Marriage Educator. She is also the Managing Editor of DivorcedMoms.com. For 11 years, Cathy was the About.com Expert to Divorce Support where she covered all aspects of the divorce process. And in her spare time she blogs for the Divorce vertical of Read More

What is fee arbitration?

Fee arbitration is an out-of-court hearing in which a sole arbitrator (or a panel of lawyers and nonlawyers) not involved in the dispute will listen to what you and your lawyer have to say, examine the fee agreement, the attorney’s performance and supporting records, and reach a decision regarding the fee dispute.

Can you go to arbitration without a lawyer?

Arbitration is usually faster and less expensive than going to court, and you can do it without hiring another lawyer. In most cases, the lawyer must agree to arbitration if you request it. More information about Mandatory Fee Arbitration.

How to dispute a bill?

State that you dispute the fees. Begin your letter with a clear statement that you dispute the fees you were charged. Identify the particular bill by its date, and list the specific items you dispute. If there is more than one item you want to dispute, you may want to format them in a bullet-point list.

What should be included in a fee agreement?

Your fee agreement should include details on how often you'll be billed, how costs will be computed, and the rates at which the attorney will bill for work completed.

How to write a letter to an attorney?

1. Use standard business format. Your word processing application typically will have a template you can use for writing business letters. Include your name and address as well as the attorney's name, firm name, and address where you're sending the letter.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

What is the process of resolving a complaint?

The process of resolving the complaint depends on the cooperation between the client and the attorney. Without cooperation by the attorney, there is little the Committee can do.

Is an arbitration award binding?

The arbitration award is legally binding and may be enforced in court. If you and your attorney agree to this option, you will each be mailed arbitration agreement forms and an arbitration hearing will be scheduled. After the arbitration hearing, you and your attorney will each be mailed a copy of the arbitration award.

Herb Fox

In response to your response to Mr. Daymude about a course of action: you may not understand that the ethics complaint with the State Bar will not result in an award of money or resolution of your fee dispute. That is not the purpose of a state bar complaint.

Kellan Richard Martz

Mr. Daymude has provided a very good answer to your question. I would add that the State Bar law/rules on fees prevent an attorney from charging you more for working with another attorney, if the work would increase your fees. I would file a complaint with the State Bar and also file for fee arbitration through the State Bar.

Michael Raymond Daymude

You can demand non-binding fee arbitration. (See the CA State Bar website.) You can file a lawsuit against the attorney in small claims court for a refund up to $10,000.

What are the rights of consumers?

Kennedy and his speech to the United States Congress in 1962, Americans got the Consumer Bill of Rights, with the original four rights: Solve My Problem. Get Started. The right to safety. The right to be informed. The right to choose. The right to be heard.

What is the Virginia Consumer Protection Act?

Virginia Consumer Protection Act. In most listed states, if the merchant doesn’t visibly present their Return & Refund Policy, customers are entitled to compensation in a reasonable time.

What is the cooling off rule?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) devised the so-called “Cooling-Off Rule” that deals with buyer’s remorse, but it has a limited scope. It applies only to sales made at home, workplace, dormitory, or the seller’s temporary location (such as hotel room, convention center, restaurant, etc.)

How long does it take to dispute a credit card charge?

In layman’s terms, this act allows consumers to initiate disputes for credit card charges, but under the following conditions: Consumers can file a dispute with a card issuer within 60 days from the receipt of the credit card bill. The charges in question must be over $50.

When was the Fair Credit Billing Act passed?

Fair Credit Billing Act. This federal law was introduced in 1974 as an amendment to the Truth in Lending Act of 1968. The Fair Credit Billing Act is an invaluable legal resource for fighting unfair billing practices and billing errors for credit cardholders.

Authorization, Category 11

Your card processor has notified you that a cardholder is disputing a transaction that you processed. The dispute falls under Condition 11.1, Card Recovery Bulletin.

Customer Disputes, Category 13

Your card processor has notified you that a cardholder is disputing a transaction that you processed. The dispute falls under Condition 13.1, Merchandise/Services Not Received.