Can I arrange a payment plan with my lawyer?
November 21, 2022 | 60,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Schröter
Dear lawyer,
I am contacting you because I am in a financial emergency and I am unable to afford the upcoming legal fees all at once. My name is Daniel Köhler and I need your help in a legal dispute that is causing me great concern.
I have already consulted a lawyer and we have developed a strategy for my case together. However, I have been informed that the legal fees must be paid in advance. However, as I currently do not have sufficient financial resources to pay the full amount, I am wondering if it is possible to arrange a payment plan with my lawyer.
I am very worried that without legal assistance, I will not be able to successfully pursue my case. Therefore, it is very important to me to be able to continue to rely on the professional help of my lawyer. However, I also do not want to neglect my financial situation, so I am looking for a way to pay the legal costs in installments.
Could you please tell me if it is legally possible to make a payment plan agreement with my lawyer? If so, what steps would need to be taken and what conditions would need to be met?
I would greatly appreciate it if you could advise me on this matter so that I can continue to rely on your professional support.
Sincerely,
Daniel Köhler
Dear Mr. Köhler,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the possibility of a payment plan agreement with your lawyer in relation to the accruing legal fees. It is indeed possible to arrange such an agreement with your lawyer to ease the financial burden for you.
In principle, lawyers are entitled to negotiate individual payment terms with their clients in order to receive appropriate compensation for their services. This means that a payment plan agreement is possible in most cases, as long as your lawyer agrees to it.
To establish such an agreement, you should first discuss your financial situation with your lawyer and be open about it. He will then assess whether a payment plan is feasible for him and under what conditions it can be done. For example, your lawyer may require an initial payment before starting work on your case, or specify certain dates for the installment payments.
It is important to document all payment terms in writing to avoid misunderstandings. The payment plan agreement should clearly outline the specific terms, such as the amount of each installment, due dates, and any consequences of late payment.
However, it is important to note that agreeing to a payment plan does not automatically mean a reduction in legal fees. The fees are determined by the Lawyers' Remuneration Act and cannot be changed arbitrarily. The goal is to make the payment process easier for you as the client without compromising on the fair compensation for the lawyer's services.
Overall, it is possible to arrange a payment plan agreement with your lawyer to ease the financial burden for you. I recommend discussing this with your lawyer and finding a mutually acceptable solution.
I hope this information is helpful to you and wish you success in your legal matter.
Sincerely,
Ralf Schröter
