how to get your money back from a family attorney

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. Make sure they give you back all the case files and court documents but keep in mind that they might charge you for them.

Full Answer

Can I get my money back from my lawyer?

Jun 19, 2020 · 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 do I get a refund from a lawyer?

Jul 07, 2011 · This is called a retainer. If you fire a lawyer to whom you have paid a retainer, you are entitled to a refund of whatever money remains of the retainer after the lawyer is paid for his services up through the time you fired him. Once you fire him, he must prepare and give you a written accounting of the funds and a refund check.

Can I fire my lawyer and get my money back?

If they still won't bend than report them to the Board of Responsibilities which will cause them some headaches. After that file a civil suit stating your cause You can get your money back. The lawyer has to show where your money went such as billing per hour, court appearances. They probably didn't even register as your attorney

What to do if you can’t afford a lawyer?

Mar 23, 2017 · If you’re able to claim the loss, you may get up to 50% of your money back. File Bankruptcy. Depending on how much money you’ve lost, a bankruptcy may be another option to help you recover from your losses and to keep from losing your home. However, speak with your attorney to find out if this is a good option for you.

What to do if you disagree with your attorney?

Bar Association Assistance. If you and your former attorney disagree on the amount of refund you are due, you can usually get help. State and local agencies that regulate attorney conduct in each state, called bar associations, often offer fee arbitration services.

What happens if you lose a contingency agreement?

In a contingency arrangement, you pay no fees up front, and if you lose, you owe your attorney nothing. If you win, however, the attorney retains a set percentage as his fee. Since you do not give the lawyer any money up front, you cannot demand a refund if you fire the attorney before trial. On the other hand, if you replace him with another attorney and continue the litigation, he may and probably will claim part of any attorney fees won by your new counsel.

How long does a lawyer have to be suspended in Arizona?

The lawyer must have been licensed or authorized to practice law in Arizona. The lawyer must have been disciplined with a suspension for longer than six months, interim suspension, disbarment or a felony conviction related to the claim.

Who is Ray Bedell?

Ray Bedell, a retired Phoenix electrician , had borrowed and scraped together more than $5,000 to hire an attorney in a family court case so he could spend more time with his daughter.

2 attorney answers

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

Craig Panter

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

1 attorney answer

Check on the date of the disbarment to see if he was already disbarred when he took your money. That makes his conduct worse.#N#You might want to file a claim with the Lawyers Fund for Client Security. Section 3.5 of the regulations requires any fee charged by a lawyer assisting you with the claim...

Norma Chase

Check on the date of the disbarment to see if he was already disbarred when he took your money. That makes his conduct worse.#N#You might want to file a claim with the Lawyers Fund for Client Security. Section 3.5 of the regulations requires any fee charged by a lawyer assisting you with the claim...

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.

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

What is retainer fee?

A retainer fee is a prepaid fee used as a guarantee of commitment from professionals, such as lawyers, attorneys, consultants, advisors, and freelancers. It is most familiar in the context of legal services because you pay it when hiring a lawyer and signing a legally binding contract with them. The retainer fee doesn’t guarantee ...

What is earned retainer?

The earned retainer fee is a certain portion of the retainer that your lawyer is entitled to at the beginning of their work. The fee is deposited to the lawyer’s trust fund, and it’s usually billed by the hour for the work done. It can also be distributed for legal tasks, additional materials, and other court fees.

What is a general operating account?

A general operating account contains the money that’s used by the firm, and a trust account keeps the client’s deposits. The firm can withdraw money from the trust account only after they’ve provided the required services to their client.

When all your efforts fail, is it time to bring in a lawyer?

When all your efforts fail, is it time to bring in a lawyer? The sad truth is that for small amounts, it can be a huge inconvenience to involve a lawyer (whom you will need to pay too) and file a lawsuit (which will also cost you). For small claims, appealing to the barangay may help you more. If you and the borrower live in the same neighborhood, the barangay can summon you both and mediate. Sometimes, just the idea that they have to face the barangay regarding a loan can spur the borrower into payment.

Why do I hesitate to collect my money?

Admit it – one of the reasons you hesitate to collect is you worry about the reaction you will get. So prepare yourself for a face-off. Some borrowers get hurt or angry or even deny that they still owe you. There are others that even argue that they did not think it was a loan but a gift from you! Do not be surprised if the person you are talking to gets ‘loan amnesia’. Keep calm and focus on the prize, which is you getting your money back.

Does Jillian owe anyone money?

Jillian does not owe anyone any money yet, but it can happen soon if she does not act on her debt collection plan. If one of her borrowers has no cash, but has family or friend with means, how about a debt swap? Jillian can “borrow” from her debtor’s relative and the agreement will be that the debtor will be the one to pay that back. This is trickier and the debtor and the relative may say no, but worth a try just in case.

Can you show someone you borrowed money from?

Ideally, you have some written document that can prove he or she borrowed money from you, how much, and on what date. But when helping out family and friends, most would not demand such a thing so what they can show is probably a text message or a copy of a check the borrower cashed. But any proof is better than none.