how to ask for money back from attorney

How to Demand a Refund From an Attorney

• The Lawyer-Client Agreement Controls. It is important to read and understand the fee agreement that you sign with your attorney before he begins working on your behalf.
• Contingency Agreements. ...
• Hourly Fee Contract. ...
• Bar Association Assistance. ...

Full Answer

Can I get my money back from my lawyer?

There is no guarantee that you can get your money back from a lawyer. However, if your attorney has wrongfully kept some or all of your retainer or financial settlement, your state bar association might be able to help. The more work you are willing to do, the more likely you are to shake loose your money from your attorney’s possession.

How to ask someone for money they owe you?

Use this way of how to ask someone for money they owe you when you do not want to disclose what it is needed for, but you need an ETA on when you’ll get the cash back. 03 “I hope this message finds you in a better spot than you were in last month when you borrowed that sum of money from me.

What should I do if my attorney refuses to return my fees?

Additionally, you have the right to seek legal action against your attorney for any unreturned fees. This might be an option if you are owed a large sum of money, but pursuing these claims likely requires you to obtain a new attorney to pursue your case. Seek legal counsel before filing a lawsuit against your attorney over unreturned fees.

Can I fire my lawyer and get my money back?

Since a client always has the right to fire her lawyer, ending the relationship is easy; figuring out the finances can be more difficult. Whether you are entitled to a refund, and size of that refund, depends on the type of fee agreement you signed with the attorney.

Is a retainer fee refundable?

Most frequently, the client agrees to a security or an advanced payment retainer where payment for services is drawn from the monies held in trust. Here's the kicker—only the true retainer is non-refundable. Unearned funds from either a security or advanced payment retainer must be refunded at the end of the work.

What is it called when a lawyer doesn't do his job?

Legal malpractice is a type of negligence in which a lawyer does harm to his or her client. Typically, this concerns lawyers acting in their own interests, lawyers breaching their contract with the client, and, one of the most common cases of legal malpractice, is when lawyers fail to act on time for clients.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

Why do lawyers ignore you?

If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.

What to do if an attorney claims they have earned the entire fee?

If the attorney claims they have earned the entire fee and is steadfast about keeping your money , the bar association could help you arrange mediation with the attorney in hopes of ironing out the disagreement.

What do you expect from an attorney?

When you hire an attorney, you expect their legal advice and guidance to assist you with whatever problem you are facing. Whether you are dealing with a creditor or facing criminal prosecution, your attorney is supposed to be your lifeline.

Why are fees spelled out upfront?

These fee agreements are spelled out upfront so that you understand what percentage your attorney will keep. However, some conflicts can arise in cases where it is unclear who is responsible for filing fees, the cost of expert witnesses, and other miscellaneous fees. These conflicts can result in a disagreement over what an attorney’s fair share actually is.

Can the bar discipline an attorney?

Additionally, the bar could discipline an attorney if they wrongfully keep a client’s fee. In extreme cases, this sort of financial malfeasance could result in the suspension of an attorney’s license. Given what is at stake, contacting the bar association could be your best option for seeing your money returned.

Do attorneys use flat fees?

Instead, attorneys use flat or hourly fees for their billing. Hourly fees are ripe for disagreements, as many attorneys require a retainer to be paid upfront. The retainer represents a pool of money paid to your attorney for fees they have not yet earned.

2 attorney answers

Call the Mississippi Bar. They have a process for this that doesn't require a full Bar complaint.

Craig Panter

You demand a full accounting and ask for whatever unearned funds there are to be returned. A call from the MS state bar to the lawyer will certainly put you back on the map I am certain.

3 attorney answers

If you signed a retainer agreement for certain services to be performed in a specific case for a flat, nonrefundable fee, you may not be entitled to the money back. However, if she truly did not perform the services for which she was hired, then she owes you some money back.

Evelyn Watts Cloninger

If you believe that you were wronged, and the attorney did not earn the money she took, file a Florida Bar Complaint. https://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBResources.nsf/Attachments/AB230E7DCCC3B75385256B29004BD6DC/$FILE/Inquiry%20Complaint%20Form.pdf?OpenElement...

Earl Kenneth Mallory

Your description of her conduct sounds incomplete. Know that I do not practice law in Florida. If you are saying that you paid her $5,000 and she did nothing, well, then you two had a contract and she did not perform and if your version is true, then yes, you should get your money back.

How to get a refund from a lawyer?

The best way to get a refund is to ask your lawyer directly—you can either send a letter or call them at the office. See if you can set up a meeting to discuss the termination of your agreement and your refund payment.

What to do if your lawyer refuses to refund you?

If your lawyer decides to ignore you and declines your refund request, you can turn to DoNotPay for help. We can get you a refund from anyone, even companies that don’t give refunds. You have a 98% chance of successfully getting a refund with us by your side. Open our app in any web browser and do the following:

What to do if your lawyer denies your refund request?

If they deny your refund request, you can file a complaint with the Bar Council that your lawyer is a member of.

How to file a small claims court?

DoNotPay will prepare you for your day in court by: 1 Generating a demand letter you need to send before you file a claim 2 Filling out the court form in accordance with your local small claims court 3 Giving you thorough instructions on how to serve the defendant with regard to your small claims court’s regulations 4 Creating a script that will include all the particulars of your case—damages you seek, what your legal claim is about, and evidence—so that you know exactly what you should say in front of the judge when you go to court

Can you get a refund for a retainer fee?

The retainer fee doesn’t guarantee a successful outcome. If you are displeased with your provider’s services, you can request a refund for the retainer fee in no time at all with DoNotPay.

Is a lawyer's fee refundable?

These fees are refundable if there’s any remaining balance after the lawyer withdraws their fee.

Can you sue someone for robocalls?

You can sue someone for harassment or reach a settlement for robocalls by filing a lawsuit with DoNotPay’s help . Aside from all the legal assistance, DoNotPay can help you deal with many everyday issues too, such as canceling services like LegalShield, RocketLawyer, Truthfinder, and BeenVerified.

How long does it take to get a refund from a store?

Most retail shops will let you request a refund within a specific timeframe, usually 30 or 60 days from the purchase, while some might have a no-refunds policy altogether.

What to do if you are not satisfied with your purchase from a local retail store?

If you are not satisfied with your purchase from a local retail store, the best thing to do is go there personally.

What is a refund request letter?

A refund-request letter is imperative when you want to officially inform the merchant that their product or service did not meet your expectations. This method of expressing your dissatisfaction may not always be an option but you should use it whenever you have an opportunity to ask for a refund in writing.

How long do you have to return a product?

Most retailers have a return policy, allowing you a 30- or 60-day timeframe to return the item. The smart thing would be to return the unwanted item as soon as possible.

Can I get a full refund for a defective product?

I read your terms and conditions, and I am well aware that customers are entitled to a full refund for a defective product.

Does the merchant have to issue refunds?

The merchant does not have to issue you a refund just because you've changed your mind.

Can you use a virtual credit card if you have a suspicious email?

Whenever you run into a suspicious email or website, generate a virtual credit card and proceed without worries. Our virtual cards also work like a charm if you want to avoid automatic payments after free trials.