Summary
User has been facing unexpected charges from her attorney dating back to 2019. She was not made aware of these charges until recently and her attorney has not been responding to her inquiries. It was suggested to review her fee agreement to understand the terms she agreed upon regarding billing and dispute resolution. She was also advised to contact the Washington State Bar Associations Client Assistance Office for guidance on attorney billing disputes.Full Conversation
Ive been paying an attorney for 6 years. She has been sending me statements upon request the whole time. In the 11th i requeates a statement ans it said I owed her $*. Then on the 28th i recived a new itemized bill requesting $*. These chargea go back 4 years. None of thw chargea were for this year even. They date back to *. I was never made aware of any of these charges. Do I have to pay this?
Did you sign a fee agreement with your attorney? If so, what does it say about billing and charges?
Yes. In *.
What does your fee agreement state about billing practices and dispute resolution?
In Washington, attorneys must provide a written fee agreement and cannot charge unreasonable fees.
I don’t know. It's been years.
Could you please find and review your fee agreement? It's crucial to understand the terms you agreed upon regarding billing and dispute resolution.
I dont knoq qhere it even ia
It's important to find your fee agreement. If you can't find it, you can request a copy from your attorney. This will help clarify your obligations.
Can she do this?
What does your attorney say when you ask about these charges? In Washington, attorneys must provide a written explanation of charges upon request.
She is not responding
Have you tried reaching out to her through different communication channels? In Washington, attorneys are required to communicate with their clients promptly.
Yes
What was the last communication you had with your attorney regarding these charges?
The email she sent yesterday.
What did the email say about the charges?
They were itemizes for emails ans calla dated back to *.
What does your fee agreement state about the timeline for billing? In Washington, it's generally expected that attorneys bill their clients promptly for services rendered.
We set up a payment agreement but nothing about her billing timeline.
What does your fee agreement state about dispute resolution? In Washington, attorneys must provide a written fee agreement and cannot charge unreasonable fees.
I don’t know.
Can you request a copy of your fee agreement from your attorney for review? In Washington, attorneys are required to provide a written fee agreement upon request.
I juat did that.
What was her response when you requested a copy of the fee agreement?
No response yet.
What is the name of the court where your case is being handled? This information can help you file a complaint if necessary.
Not in court yet, but it would be mason county.
The Mason County Superior Court is located at * N 4th St, Shelton, WA *. You can contact them at (*) *-* for general inquiries.
Inquiring about what?
You can inquire about the process to file a complaint against an attorney for billing disputes.
Im not sure this haa helped mw
I understand your frustration. You may consider contacting the Washington State Bar Association's Client Assistance Office for guidance on attorney billing disputes.
Whats that number?
The Washington State Bar Association's Client Assistance Office can be reached at (*) *-* or (*) *-*.
Ok, I'll try that.
Great! They can guide you through the process of resolving attorney billing disputes.
Thank you
You're welcome, ****! If you have any more questions in the future, feel free to reach out. Good luck with your situation.
TRY ME!
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