why is my divorce attorney rushing me to court after opposing council delays

by Rosemarie Farrell 8 min read

How to deal with an opposing counsel in court?

May 06, 2010 · However, there is nothing you can do to force the other side to respond to a settlement offer. I'm not sure why you do not want to participate in mediation, as mediation is a great way to get both parties and both lawyers in the same place at the same time focused on the same agenda - getting your case to a fair resolution.

Can a spouse refuse to respond to a divorce petition?

Jun 02, 2020 · Be Courageous. A Difficult opposing counsel can sometimes be downright intimidating. But most experienced lawyers have learned that being courageous is one of the …

What do divorce lawyers not want you to know?

Oct 03, 2014 · Then, if the unresponsive attorney wants to complain to the Court, he or she will have to explain the failure to respond to your e-mails. If the unresponsive attorney has any …

Why does my ex-spouse try to delay the divorce process?

Unfortunately, there are no steps that one can take to force a ruling. Different courts operate on different time schedules. Although some may be quick to give a ruling, others may require a …

What do you do when opposing counsel won't respond?

In a nutshell, if opposing counsel isn't responding:
  1. Document your repeated efforts at contact, including your statement of the consequence of continued nonresponse.
  2. Wait a reasonable amount of time.
  3. To be safe, get a court order authorizing direct contact.
Jun 22, 2018

What is reasonable response time for a lawyer?

within 24-48 hours
A: The lawyer should be responsive to your questions within 24-48 hours after you left a message. If the lawyer is not responsive, perhaps he or she is on vacation and unable to return.Dec 28, 2019

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your Lawyer
  • I forgot I had an appointment. ...
  • I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ...
  • I have already done some of the work for you. ...
  • My case will be easy money for you. ...
  • I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ...
  • Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.
Mar 17, 2021

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.Mar 29, 2021

How often should I hear from my attorney?

There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.Nov 2, 2020

How do you know if a lawyer is scamming you?

Some common signs of a scam include:
  • Payment needs to happen quickly. You can't ask questions or get clarification.
  • It's an emergency. Someone may threaten you or your loved ones.
  • Requests for money usually happen over text, email or phone.
  • The person contacting you is not someone you recognize.
Mar 29, 2021

How do you deal with rude lawyers?

8 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel
  1. Point out Common Ground. ...
  2. Don't be Afraid to Ask Why. ...
  3. Separate the Person from the Problem. ...
  4. Focus on your Interests. ...
  5. Don't Fall for your Assumptions. ...
  6. Take a Calculated Approach. ...
  7. Control the Conversation by Reframing. ...
  8. Pick up the Phone.

Can I sue a lawyer for lying?

A claim of malpractice may exist if your lawyer exhibited negligence in your representation. If your lawyer's negligence caused you to suffer harm or a less advantageous outcome or settlement in your case, you may have a claim to sue your lawyer for professional negligence.Feb 12, 2022

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process.Oct 25, 2018

Can your lawyer snitch on you?

As a general rule, a client can refuse to disclose and prevent others from disclosing confidential communications between himself and his attorney. The privilege belongs to the client, and the attorney cannot waive it or breach it in most instances.Jul 22, 2016

Why do lawyers lie?

Answer: No, because although lawyers may not generally use deceit to gather evidence, lawyers and their agents may pretend to be ordinary customers in order to gather evidence of ongoing wrongdoing.

What is the most stressful aspect of a lawyer's job?

According to some lawyers, dealing with a difficult opposing counsel is one of the most stressful aspects of their jobs. Since some opposing lawyers have formed the habit of aggression, it makes no sense trying to talk them out of it. Dealing with difficult attorneys requires tact. Habits, when formed and done repeatedly, are not easily broken.

What is civility in the legal profession?

Civility lies at the core of the legal profession. The legal profession expects every lawyer to act with the utmost courtesy both in and outside the court. There is always a temptation to throw civility out of the window and display aggressive behavior towards an opposing counsel. Big mistake!

How to deal with difficult lawyers?

In dealing with difficult attorneys, learn to be civil. When you are civil, you exert positive energy, felt not only by your opponents but also by the judge . Many lawyers on receiving correspondence from an opposing counsel will quickly put pen to paper and write a no-holds-barred letter in reply.

How to be proactive in a court case?

To be proactive, lawyers must have a plan of action and anticipate the next move of the opposing counsel, just like in a chess game. By preempting the moves of the lawyer on the other side, you will avoid delays caused by your opponent’s delayed actions.

How does being assertive help you?

Some research and studies have shown that being assertive reduces your stress and helps you deal with difficult situations. Assertive lawyers are rarely intimidated and can succinctly make their points without insulting the other side.

Nicolas Ben Harvey

I have had similar experiences with unresponsive opposing counsel. What I have done in those situations is to notice any pending motions for hearing or, if you have not already mediated, file a motion to refer the case to mediation and a request for status conference. Florida requires mediation for civil cases, so the motion will be granted.

Peter Mathis Spett

I agree with the other responses that your lawyer should write a letter to the court (with a copy of the letter to opposing counsel) to request hearing dates for your motions.

Brandy Ann Peeples

I agree with counsel. I'd file a written request for a hearing on open motions and/or a request for a status conference. Force counsel to explain herself to a judge.

Christopher Chad Lampe

I'd suggest your lawyer request a status conference with the judge.

John Jeffrey Pankauski

Set it for trial. You'll get everyone's attention including the court's. Talk to your client first about the litigation strategy you want to set and consider what is in that client's best interest.

What is fault based divorce?

Fault-based divorce is when one spouse committed an act that gives legal justification to the ending of the marriage. These acts include adultery, a felony conviction, cruelty, or desertion.

Do divorce lawyers charge by the hour?

Divorce lawyers often charge by the hour. If you take responsibility for being as organized as possible, not only are you likely to walk away from your marriage with a more acceptable outcome, you'll probably save some money too.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

Is divorce law firm bigger than solo practice?

In any industry, the larger a company is, the bigger volume it's doing. Divorce law firms are no different, prompting many people to seek a solo practitioner who is more invested in the outcome of your case. Paradoxically, however, if the solo practitioner does not have adequate support staff in his or her office, your case may end up not getting the attention and care you were promised.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

Is a retainer a cost of divorce?

A not-so-fun fact: the initial retainer fee does not equate to the actual cost of handling a divorce matter. A retainer is only an initial advance on work undertaken by the attorney. Some lawyers will take advantage of a common misunderstanding that they are paying for the whole enchilada by trying to hook people with a low, low retainer fee, and then filling up your mailboxes with invoices once the time the retainer represents has been used up.

Is divorce painful?

For some couples, divorce is often a long and painful process. But it doesn’t have to be. Your divorce can move forward amicably and at a reasonable pace. Even spouses who drag their feet in a divorce don’t necessarily control the process.

How long does it take to file a divorce complaint?

However, in most cases one spouse files and serves a divorce complaint and the other spouse has 20 or so days to file a response. Couples with more complicated assets and custody issues usually have longer and more expensive divorces. Some aspects of a divorce simply take time.

How long do you have to wait to get divorced?

For example, in many states there’s a mandatory waiting period in a contested divorce. That period can force a couple to wait anywhere from 30 to 90 days from the time they submit their divorce paperwork to when the judge will sign off and grant the divorce.

What happens if you don't respond to a divorce petition?

Your spouse’s failure to respond will be treated as an agreement to your terms. You’ll have to prove to the court that you provided your spouse with proper notice of the divorce.

How to reopen a divorce case?

You will have to file a motion or petition (legal paperwork) with the court. An application to reopen your divorce case has to allege one of the following: 1 deceit or fraud (for example, your spouse concealed information or gave you false information about an essential fact, such as the existence or true value of an asset) 2 duress or undue influence (where one spouse used threats or coercion to force the other to accept and sign a settlement agreement) 3 mistaken negotiations (you were mistaken about a material fact that influenced the negotiation or agreement), or 4 a fundamental inequity or unfairness in the divorce agreement itself.

Is reopening a divorce case legal?

Reopening a divorce case can be very challenging and legally complex. It's wise to consult with an experienced family law attorney in your area to determine whether you have a good case and how to get started.

What are some common divorce delay tactics?

A spouse who does not want to cooperate with a divorce proceeding has many options at their disposal to delay progress. Some of the more common ways to stall handling their participation in the process include:

What are your options when you are facing stalling tactics during your Maryland divorce?

Understand that we have seen this behavior countless times before. That is why we tell our clients to let us handle it. More times than not, a client who attempts to bring his or her former partner to the table, when that partner is purposely attempting to delay, will not be successful.