Go to her office!

Start calling her office

I told mine that I do not want to be pushed aside. I need answers as soon as possible. I would change lawyers again, if you are getting the satisfaction or the representation you want and need.

You have to remember that yours is not the only case the attorney is handling at this time. Also, if you call or email too often, it's not uncommon for you to go "to the bottom of the pile." If a situation is urgent or if you need an immediate answer to a pressing question, then you should call the office and tell the secretary that it is URGENT and you need to hear back within, say, 8 hours.

Usually, attorneys have two days a week in court during which time they are unable to respond to phone calls. Some WILL respond to text messages. I know that I would just keep a running list of questions for my attorney and she would usually call me AFTER HOURS on Tuesday or Friday because those were the days she was in court all day.

Knuckle, I had that very thought this week, about changing lawyers again. However, that is very, very expensive and I cannot afford to do that again. I know I'm not her only case. Of course. But, what I don't get is how long they keep you waiting with no updates. That drives me absolutely crazy, the not knowing. If a client emailed me, I would respond within minutes, not days. I would never, ever keep a client waiting. Who do these attorneys think they are? It's like they get your retainer and then do whatever they please. They know they have you over a barrel and take full advantage of it.

Cowgirl, what would you consider calling or emailing too often? I paid my attorney a $2,000 retainer. I have a right to know what's going on.

My lawyer doesn't charge me for updates. When she calls that is when I take advantage and ask case related questions. You should get a monthly itemized statement showing what she has done. She should have given you a list of fees braking down the cost of phone calls, emails etc. You should really get temporary support so your not in such a tight situation while things are getting sorted out. This will take awhile. If you change lawyers the next one will re-do what the others have done and you will be going backward instead of forward. Plus if you had the money for another deposit you would already have something to drive.

Breaking down not braking. Sorry

That's nice that she doesn't charge you for updates. The only monthly statement I received just had a general list of stuff she did but nothing specific and definitely not a breakdown. My first attorney had a very specific breakdown. In fact, if she had spent as much time on my case as she did keeping meticulous track of "receiving and reviewing" my emails, we would have been done by now!

I'm going to call in the morning and ask for temp support. I have had enough.

A $2000.00 retainer is a small amount compared to what some of us paid. Only twice did my Atty not return my call and I just assumed he didn't have what I was asking about and wasn't wasting my money.

My retainer was three times yours and was eaten up getting to court the first time. My Atty was in another county and that meant one hours drive time to court and another hour for him to get back to his office. He charged phone calls in 15 minute increments and I received a detailed bill at the end of the month.

I knew he was expensive and I know what a great atty he is. I didn't know just how good until our fifth time in court. Every atty in that court house was in the hall asking questions and listening to his answers. The two judges I had during this last six years never questioned what he said and he is respected by his peers.

I really don't like attys. I consider some of them blood sucking leaches but this man is truly a nice man and he listened to every what if I had and covered that in my divorce. We worked together to get the ex back in court three times for contempt. In the end he got me what I wanted from the start of my leaving the ex. I now own my farm and that's what I wanted.

Make a list of questions and a time to call or go into her office. Remember you aren't her only client and her days can be long and busy. But you do need to push for temp support.

Wonder what it costs to get temp support…anyone know? I know the retainer might seem low comparatively. But, this is my second atty. The first one I paid a $3,500 retainer and she basically did almost nothing except 'receive and review' my emails, literally. I'm in the process of filing a complaint with the SC Bar Resolution of Fee Disputes Board.

Goldengirl - A word of extreme caution here. The legal community is usually pretty tight and news travels quickly. I strongly suggest that you NOT change attorneys again for fear you will not be taken seriously.

You paid a $2,000 retainer. I have no idea what your attorney charges per hour, but for round numbers sake, let's assume $200. That's 10 hours. And yes, most DO charge in 15 minute increments and that is billed against your retainer. If you only paid $2,000 up front, you got off easy.

One thing that I see may be happening is that you are using your attorney in an attempt to NEGOTIATE a settlement with your stbx. From where I sit, you could have done the same thing and saved some money by hiring a MEDIATOR. To be frank, unless and until you actually FILE for DIVORCE, there isn't a lot your attorney can do for you. In order to get a temporary order of support, you've got to file SOMETHING. I never had an issue with the idea of going to court because I KNEW the now-X wasn't going to do anything until he absolutely had to.

Protect your rights and advocate for yourself! Take the leash off your attorney and go ahead and file for divorce AND an order of temporary support at the same time. I think you will get more done in less time with less anxiety than sitting around expecting your stbx to "do the right thing."

This issue about purchasing a car will might seem to have little legal urgency when you have no current employment that requires your attendance which might affect your finances. Insisting on a car to run errands generally is not justifiable. I'm just saying. You've also stated not even having means to buy gasoline [ and apparently any other required maintenance expenses that tags along. ] Blowing steam over your current lawyer not responding with updates adequately fast enough to suit you is barking up the wrong tree. Seems to me, you're forgetting postponement and delays of your stbx is the culprit. If you want to point the gun, it's at your stbx. Bottom line, demanding stbx to co-sign for a vehicle is like asking for diamonds to rain from the sky. I mean from love. Keep using your daughter's car for errands and /or have someone else co-sign. Better yet, I agree, with the others, focus on temp. support. You've got bigger fish to fry than to fuss about a lawyer!

Toby, thanks for the advice. I agree that stbx is causing the majority of the delays.

Currently, I have no car. I'm driving my daughter's car because she didn't need it at college this past year as a freshman but now she does. She has moved into an apt. of her own and needs her car. That leaves me with none. Re: stbx co-signing. I have been approved for a car loan on my own but the bank needs proof of income or alimony. He has agreed to co-sign on the loan, as long as it doesn't bind him after the divorce decree is final. No one else is available to co-sign.

So, I hope to hear from my attorney today. If I don't hear by 10, I will call.

What is a temp support hearing like? Is it just my attorney, both attorneys or all four of us?

It should be all four of you but my ex was overseas so his atty had a POA to act in the ex's behalf. In my county the hearing rooms are closed to the public. We have assigned times for our hearings. I know that some states have courtrooms where your name is called and everyone who is divorcing that day is in the room. I'm not sure how other counties in my state handle divorces.