I could not infer which sub-forum to select.
Hello Forum, I was married few years back and have 2 children aged 10 boy n girl. Wife wanted to get separated from joint family but financial conditions were not cordial.
She left the house after a heated argument and quarrel leaving the kids with us. After two months she sends us a lawyer notice that she needs her kids. In between I have made multiple attempts to persuade her to come back but her parents who were the main key for turning against me were not allowing me to meet her or she does not even talk to me without their permission. Any how I could not even meet her or talk to her to persuade her to join me as a family.
We approached a lawyer, who advised us that we need not reply I can take care, you can go back to work. We got a second notice again, then again our lawyer told us not to worry, these people behave like that only, and gave us confidence that things will be resolved without climbing the footsteps of court.
Now our lawyer has taken me to meet the lawyer for a discussion to resolve things amicably. After few minutes the lawyer starts shouting and threatening me and my lawyer sits just like a doll smiling and looking at me. When I asked for support & reaction from my lawyer he tells me to reply or shut up by reasoning that I am being counseled. Then the lawyer asks us to return the kids as a reply to the notice but has not provided us the acknowledgement of children handover. We had been insisting many a times but he never have provided us the acknowledgement.
After a month summons are delivered from the family court by court clerk. Now when I ask my lawyer he is telling that I was only advising you and I am not your lawyer. But he took hefty fees every week or every time we went for discussion with him, he has never provided any bills even after repeatedly asking.
Every meeting is organized by our lawyer. He calls us and tells us to come to discuss about the case. Till now there was no reply to the lawyer notice by our or from our lawyer nor was advised to us by our lawyer. When we were talking to a 498a victim near our locality by accident he had advised us to approach a leading lawyer as we were being misguided by the current lawyer.
We approached a new lawyer and advised to appear before the court after we receive new summons.
Why are being misled by the lawyer ?
What was the purpose of misguidance ?
What is our current state or where are we now ?
Could we have averted this situation if our lawyer had guided and did the right thing ?
What are the next steps ? Advice please.