The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm

Unlike any other firm I have encountered, the contract stated that the retainer was non-refundable and fully earned upon receipt, quoting: “I agree to pay the Attorney as compensation for their professional services a sum of $5,000.00 as a retainer fee, which is non-refundable and fully earned upon receipt.” My initial consultation was not with the attorney, but with a staff member. During that consultation, I emphasized the urgency of meeting with the attorney that same week. I was told that once the contract was signed and the retainer paid, I would be scheduled immediately. The invoice was sent on August 20. After paying the retainer, no one contacted me. On August 21, after I reached out, I was informed that the earliest available appointment would be August 25, as the attorney had a busy schedule that week and could not even accommodate a brief introductory call. On August 22, I requested to cancel the contract and asked for a full refund, as no services had begun and I had never met or spoken with the attorney. On August 25, I received only a partial refund, with the firm retaining $1,000. I again requested a full refund because no legal services were provided and I had relied on representations made during the consultation that a meeting with the attorney would occur that week. After that, I never heard from the firm again. This experience in a family law matter raised serious concerns for me about the firm’s approach to entitlement to compensation despite no services being rendered, particularly given that clients in these situations are often vulnerable and have limited resources. The focus appeared to be on fee collection rather than client service, relationship-building, or professional rapport.