Q: How can my retained lawfirm get all records of filings, hearings and court orders in my custody case?
I retained this firm back in July. They have billed me for $25,000 so far and are asking for more retainer. We've been to court unprepared because they didn't have all that information. Now they're telling me the only way they can get it is if the most expensive attorney on my case goes to get it physically from the court. Is there no lower cost option?? Is this "normal"??
A: That is completely absurd and obscene. Contact the NJ State Bar Ethics committee and report this. You should get a significant refund it not all of it. You really need a new law firm. The Court file if it is still in the local court can be copied at the Court by paying the Court the required fee per page. If the file is in the Court storage system in Trenton, it will take long to obtain, but it will not even cost $500.00 worst case scenario, unless transcripts of Court proceedings have to be ordered, in which case, the cost will be considerably more.
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