StepParent Adoption/Attorney Ethics

[HeldHostage]

What is the name of your state? FLORIDA

Going through StepParent Adoption. We paid our Attorney (at time of consultation) an agreed amount that would cover the complete process if it went as planned (bioparent signs consent without incident,etc). It was discussed that additional fees would only be incurred if the case became more complex. The complete process was simple - a cookie-cutter case. Six days before the final hearing (to terminate rights and complete adoption) - we get a call from our attorney's office wanting more money (almost double the agreed amount) or he won't attend the hearing. No fee agreement/contract/anything was ever signed re: fees. The agreed amount, however, was dictated by Attorney in machine while we were present at first consultation. Any ideas on how we should proceed?

PS...nothing unusual happened in this case - except that we constantly had to have the paralegal re-do documents due to her errors.

 

[moburkes]

It sounds like you should pay the attorney, barring a written agreement that states that what you have paid already is a paid in full payment.

 

[seniorjudge]

It sounds like you should pay the attorney, barring a written agreement that states that what you have paid already is a paid in full payment.

And then (after the deal is done) file a complaint with the state bar.