Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

What can I require before I pay my attorney?

I have been working with an attorney for over 1 year. There was no contract signed and only a $200 per hour fee discussed. As of last week, I have not received a bill. Now that the case is up for dismissal, the attorney is refusing to sign off on the court documents to dismiss the case until payment is received. In return, I asked for a bill. What she sent over was a rough estimate (derived from a single piece of scratch paper which she spent 5 minutes creating) which includes things like Client Financials - 3 hours = $600, Counter-petition = $250, etc. There are no specifics. There are not even dates.

I am all for paying for what I owe but to date, she has not proven what I owe. Can I require her to provide more detail before paying?


Asked on 3/05/07, 10:09 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
James Grissom Law Office of James P. Grissom

Re: What can I require before I pay my attorney?

Well as a consumer, I would require something more than a bill on a napkin and as a professional, I would provide something on my letterhead at least. Sure, it takes about 15-20 minutes extra, but the impression is much better. Sorry for your experience with this attorney.

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Answered on 3/05/07, 11:39 am


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