Q: Can my spouses attorney charge me for not taking their relator referral?
I am going through a divorce and my spouse and I have agreed to put the house up for sale. My spouses attorney called me because I declined to take their referral for a relator because they were inexperienced and not local. They called me and said that they were going to charge me fees for denying their suggested relator. Are they allowed to do this?
I gave the suggestion of doing my own research and suggesting 3 local realtors that have more experience in selling and dealing with divorce than their suggestion. Also, I am representing myself through this divorce.
Thank you!
A: Under California law, your spouse's attorney generally has no basis to charge you fees for declining their realtor referral. In a divorce proceeding, each party is generally responsible for their own legal fees, unless there's a court order directing otherwise. Before making any decisions, you should consult with your own legal counsel to review the specifics of your case and the potential implications.
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