Don’t Make Your Divorce Lawyer Your Banker

No one likes their banker.

Honestly, when was the last time you thought, “Wow, I really like those guys who charge me all sorts of ridiculous fees for me giving them my money”? Or, when was the last time you said, “I dig those guys who gave me a car loan and then charged me all sorts of interest for years”?

The Bible says, “The debtor is slave to the lender,” and it’s right. We tend not to like our slaveholders, which is one reason we don’t like banks.

And yet, people choose to make their divorce lawyers their bankers every day.

How Your Attorney Becomes Your Banker

This is how it happens. You pay your attorney a retainer of a few thousand dollars. Your attorney doesn’t tell you how much your case will cost and then bills you by the hour. He quickly blows through your retainer.

But your attorney does more work on your case, which means your account is now in the negative and now you owe your attorney gobs more money.

Violà, your attorney is now you banker.

What Happens After the Switch from Lawyer to Banker?

Like most banks, your attorney’s going to charge you interest for the privilege of owing him money. It’s usually around 20% per year, sometimes compounding monthly. That’s like a credit card interest rate.

And, like any good debt collector, your attorney’s going to hound you for money every time you call.

If you don’t pay, he’ll also threaten you, just like banks do.

Essentially, when you make your lawyer your banker, your relationship changes from attorney–client to slaveholder–slave.

I’m sure you see the writing on the wall here: when your relationship changes from attorney–client to slaveholder–slave, you tend to get worse results in your case.

That only makes sense. You don’t like your lawyer–slaveholder, and your lawyer doesn’t particularly appreciate the fact you’re behind on your bill.

All this makes for a toxic, unworkable relationship, and those relationships don’t tend to work out well for divorce clients or their families in the end.

How not To Make Your Divorce Lawyer Your Banker

Keeping your divorce lawyer your lawyer, instead of your banker, if pretty simple: Never run a negative balance.

In other words, always keep your lawyer paid, and keep money in your retainer.

Your relationship with your attorney is so much better when you have money in your retainer, as opposed to a negative balance.

There’s less tension, there’s so much less stress, and telephone conversations are much more pleasant.

Call Brown Family Law

If you find yourself facing a divorce, please call 801.685.9999 for a legal in-person consultation, or use our online scheduling tool.

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Nathaniel Garrabrandt and Brown Family Law is where I send people who are seeking Divorce. Highly professional and compassionate. Thank you!
I cannot say enough good about my experience with Brown Family Law. Ray Hingson and paralegal Carren did an excellent job with my case. I will definitely use this firm again for any legal issues.
I have worked with Andrew Christensen many times in a variety of situations. I am very impressed with his friendly demeanor in a difficult situation. I would highly recommend him to you without any reservations.
Highly recommend Brown Family Law. Life is hard, divorce is harder, and Andrew Christensen is your guy to help you through to the other side.
When you’re going through a tough time and need legal help, this firm isn’t just a one-person operation. It’s a team of attorneys who work together to support you every step of the way. So you’re not just getting a lawyer, you’re getting a legal team behind you.

Navigating the legal system was a steep learning curve for me, and my situation was fairly complex. What stood out about this law firm was the way multiple attorneys collaborated to address my case. It wasn’t just one person working in isolation, but a team supporting each other to find the best path forward. That kind of collective effort is a real strength, especially in hard out complex situations like mine.

There was one issue I felt should have had a different outcome with the court. When I brought it up, the team responded in a very professional and respectful manner, which I truly appreciated. It came to my understanding that the legal system sometimes works in a way that is distant than I thought. This was presented to me in a way that someone outside of the legal system could understand.

In my experience, this firm takes the time to not only assist you, but also help you understand why things are happening. That made a big difference for me, and it’s something that really sets them apart.
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My experience with Jennifer and Brown Family Law was nothing short of amazing. From the very beginning of my initial consultation all the through until my case was settled, I was well taken care of and updated every step of the way. I felt like my team genuinely cared about the outcome of my case, which was refreshing. You get what you pay for, and Brown Family was worth every penny. To say I highly recommend this group is an understatement.
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Andrew Christensen was a great divorce lawyer. He is very experienced, professional, and was great to work with during this difficult process.
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Made my divorce quick and painless. 5 months ago I was feeling very overwhelmed. There was legal issues with protective orders, my ex wife had taken my kids to another country without my consent, I was in way over my head. After speaking with brown law they calmed my nerves took over my case. A few video calls and 5 months later my divorce is finalized with a fair outcome for everyone. It was easy and stress fee, it didn’t even feel like I was going through a divorce.
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Jennifer was excellent! She was always responsive and kept me updated on my case. while the billing was a little different from what I expected, her expertise was invaluable. I highly recommend her. And I appreciate everything she's done for me and may case.
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I am highly recommending them to anyone looking to feel at ease during a difficult time.
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