Dear Attorneys,
I recently went to judgment on my divorce. We were on the verge of trial, but we ended up reaching an agreement about a week before. It was a pretty lengthy agreement-around 20 pages. My lawyer and I discussed it, she sent it to me to review, asked me questions, etc. But I never really read it. I felt like I told her what I wanted, and it should be in there, right? So, I just signed off on it. Now, two months later, my ex-wife is telling me I owe her money, and I double checked the agreement. Sure enough, it says in there that I do owe her what she is asking me for. But I told my lawyer that I wouldn’t do that! Now I want to sue my lawyer. Can I do that? Am I the A**hole?
Sincerely,
A**hole Adam
Dear Adam,
Well, you’re probably the A**hole. During the course of your attorney representing you, you probably told her approximately 1,000 things. Many of those were probably relevant to the case, and many probably were not. Some of those made it into your file, and realistically, some probably did not. Some of those things may or may not have been able to go into the agreement. A clause (or two) could have been because a) the Court would not accept an agreement containing that specific clause b) the opposing party/counsel did not agree to it or c) she misunderstood you, or simply forgot. Lawyers are human. Which means they are not perfect. Lawyers are required to zealously advocate for you, and do their due diligence, but again, the standard is not perfection. The entire point of us having clients review pleadings or agreements is to essentially get your “sign off” before finalizing anything. If you do not read something and simply sign it, we cannot control that. We are not mind-readers, and we cannot assume that you have questions if you don’t verbalize them. If you are truly concerned about a provision in your divorce agreement that you believe should not have been included, call your attorney, explain your concerns, and I’m fairly certain she will help you to the best of her ability. We never want clients to be unhappy with our services. However, we also understand that we are working with people in one of the worst phases of their lives, so it’s often tough to be incredibly appreciative of what we do.
Remember, you don’t have to navigate this challenging situation alone. Seek support from experienced professionals who can guide you through the legal process and help you make informed decisions. Wolf & Shore Law Group is here to help you make your family law matters easier, not harder. We are realistic and direct with our clients. We encourage potential clients to seek out a firm where they will feel comfortable and confident. Ever argue with a woman? Let Wolf & Shore Law Group go to work for you. Call us at 203.745.3151 or email us at info@wolfandshorelaw.com.
Very Truly Yours,
Wolf & Shore Law Group
*The situations represented in our Dear Attorneys column are entirely fictional and any resemblance to a specific case is unintentional. We cannot, and will not, offer legal advice to anyone who is not a client. However, if you do have questions or concerns, you should contact an attorney at your convenience.
