I am just not sure if there are details that I should adress regarding the "retainer contract" that will become how and what is charged and ultimately my cost to hire this lawyer - below are the basics of what I agreed to. This document contract appears to be very simple, is there something that I should have in writing above this to protect my rights that are typically part of this agreement? At the very least to avoid conflict down the road ?(I can't run out of money - I will never be able to represent myself) Here it is:
So yesterday I did sign the agreement to authorize the lawyer to commence the application against my ex for divorce, SS, medical coverage (very big issue for me) and negotiate equalization of Net Family Property and I authorize the lawyer to conduct such proceedings as the lawyer deems necessary and employ "such agents and counsel" considered expideiant.
costs:
>.1 per hour for each letter sent recieved (with no cap - he explained in the case of letter writing it just breaks his time into very small blocks of time but a letter of 10 blocks will come to $275 which is the billable rate)
>$1500 perday court time plus all disbursements
>I must stay ahead of the retainer, in advance as requested by the lawyer and I have two weeks to do so or he will be entitled to cease representing me. I will pay the entire cost for the order to severe our relationship
>until the bill is paid in full - I will not be entitled to recieve any documentation from the file
>I am entitled to recieve copies at my request of all correspondence and court proceedings as well as the original documents provided by me or 3rd parties evidence of my earnings, my ownership of possessions or debts to any issue between me and my ex.
So I admit I was taken aback to the fact that i have not even got the 13.1 out yet and $1500 is gone. Yikes! I have constantly told him and his assisstant point blank the costs - I am not an open wallet and I have to have his office to limit ALL unnecessary billing and time which will kill me to the point that what I have available is gone and I have NO LAWYER to continue. I need him to the end. I actually had to stop him a couple of times as we reviewed the 13.1 that he is using time up to calculate complicated numbers at $275 an hour which at his request I had forwarded to his assisstant last week to tally up (Her time is no charge). The fact that it was not done - leave this and I will do it myself and provide him with the actual number (this being fairly extensive perscription, dental, health benefit costs). He stopped and we continued.
This bogging of time happened a couple of more times and I am proud to have recognized it right off and stopped it - move forward..... Lawyer said, and I know this, your 13.1 is not easy - by far this is like the most difficult personal declaration I have come across that did not entail business ownership. I know I am having my own medical issues and I can't afford to have it affect the lawyer's bill. Tuesday's meeting was 2-1/2 hours - before I gave them the I do not have the money to keep this pace up, $1500 and the 13.1 is not even filed yet the Lawyer already said he was only going to bill for 1 hour today - he has done this every time, he has dropped at least 10 hours since the first introduction but even then we have not even started. (Sigh)
so this weekend is my task to finish up the last little bit which is the last three sections on page 8 and 9 and he has my 13.1 info! I am admitadly overwhelmed by the costs and how easy it is to see thousands disappear - if there are words of wisdom to help keep this as low as possible????
So yesterday I did sign the agreement to authorize the lawyer to commence the application against my ex for divorce, SS, medical coverage (very big issue for me) and negotiate equalization of Net Family Property and I authorize the lawyer to conduct such proceedings as the lawyer deems necessary and employ "such agents and counsel" considered expideiant.
costs:
>.1 per hour for each letter sent recieved (with no cap - he explained in the case of letter writing it just breaks his time into very small blocks of time but a letter of 10 blocks will come to $275 which is the billable rate)
>$1500 perday court time plus all disbursements
>I must stay ahead of the retainer, in advance as requested by the lawyer and I have two weeks to do so or he will be entitled to cease representing me. I will pay the entire cost for the order to severe our relationship
>until the bill is paid in full - I will not be entitled to recieve any documentation from the file
>I am entitled to recieve copies at my request of all correspondence and court proceedings as well as the original documents provided by me or 3rd parties evidence of my earnings, my ownership of possessions or debts to any issue between me and my ex.
So I admit I was taken aback to the fact that i have not even got the 13.1 out yet and $1500 is gone. Yikes! I have constantly told him and his assisstant point blank the costs - I am not an open wallet and I have to have his office to limit ALL unnecessary billing and time which will kill me to the point that what I have available is gone and I have NO LAWYER to continue. I need him to the end. I actually had to stop him a couple of times as we reviewed the 13.1 that he is using time up to calculate complicated numbers at $275 an hour which at his request I had forwarded to his assisstant last week to tally up (Her time is no charge). The fact that it was not done - leave this and I will do it myself and provide him with the actual number (this being fairly extensive perscription, dental, health benefit costs). He stopped and we continued.
This bogging of time happened a couple of more times and I am proud to have recognized it right off and stopped it - move forward..... Lawyer said, and I know this, your 13.1 is not easy - by far this is like the most difficult personal declaration I have come across that did not entail business ownership. I know I am having my own medical issues and I can't afford to have it affect the lawyer's bill. Tuesday's meeting was 2-1/2 hours - before I gave them the I do not have the money to keep this pace up, $1500 and the 13.1 is not even filed yet the Lawyer already said he was only going to bill for 1 hour today - he has done this every time, he has dropped at least 10 hours since the first introduction but even then we have not even started. (Sigh)
so this weekend is my task to finish up the last little bit which is the last three sections on page 8 and 9 and he has my 13.1 info! I am admitadly overwhelmed by the costs and how easy it is to see thousands disappear - if there are words of wisdom to help keep this as low as possible????
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