need help on settlement letter

I posted this topic on the real estate board but perhaps it is more appropriate here. Please forgive me for being reduntant.

I live in NY. My lawyer screwed up my closing on a house a few years back and he has agreed to pay me a lump sum.

Before he pays me though, he requests that I sign forms releasing him from all liabilities going forward.

My question is how do I make sure that he will actually send me the check after I sign the forms? Perhaps I'm getting paranoid, but in the past, this same lawyer has tried to weasle his way out of his legal mess with me and I had refuse to sign other documents before.

The section on the letter that bothers me the most is the following:

"Mr. John doe residing at XX, as Releasors, in consideration of the sum YY Dollars, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, releases and discharges Lawyer Mr. K..."

Now I haven't receive anything yet...but am I correct that this letter states that I have already received the settlement? My wife suggest I hand him the letter and demand payment on the spot. Do I have reasons to be concerned if I sign the letter based on that paragraph if the lawyer ends up not paying me at all?

Thanks in advance for any opinions or advice

What a clever wife! Make sure the check is certified.