Insurance draft

[tan76]

What is the name of your state? I am in NJ

My 25%-of-the-settlement-amount lawyer received a settlement draft with my name (driver), my sister's name (car owner), and his name from the other side's insurance. He says the law requires him to deposit the draft into his firm's trust fund account before sending me my part of the settlement, and in order for him to deposit, he needs my sister's public notarized signature.

The problem is, my sister is oversea in an extended time, and I cant reach her. I ask my lawyer to send me the bill, and I will issue a check of payment for his service. Then he forwards the insurance draft with his endorsement to me, letting me taking care the business between me and my sister. But he refuses to do it and says it is illegal. And he threatens to file a motion to extract his fee, leaving me no idea what I should do.

Is it really illegal for him to do what i request? And what should I do to get the money, considering my sister is not in the country?

Thanks for your replies in advance