im expecting a certified letter from my lawyer, what is it?

by Candido Mayer 9 min read

Law firms and government agencies typically use certified mail when they need a legally recognized proof of delivery, for example, when sending court papers, tax audit notifications or important contracts. There are dozens of reasons why someone may send you certified mail, not all of them bad.

Full Answer

How to respond to a certified letter from a lawyer?

Jul 23, 2016 · What I can tell you for certain: the mailing of the certified letter means that (a) the lawyer wants to make sure that you get the letter - or that you become aware that it was mailed to you; and (b) the lawyer wants to have proof that he mailed you the letter.

What is a certified letter in law?

Sometimes, it's just done out of habit, but typically, it’s done because (1) certified letters contain a form of tracking to confirm that the recipient in fact received the letter in question and (2) many procedural rules require certain documents to be sent by certified letter (or list certified letter as one acceptable option of several).

When to hire a lawyer after receiving a letter?

Mar 06, 2012 · If the law firm attempted Sheriff’s service and the Sheriff was unable to serve you, the law firm on behalf of its client could have filed a motion with the court allowing for service by certified mail. However, such service would contain a …

Why would someone send me a certified letter?

Oct 18, 2016 · The first option, ignoring the letter, is one that every person should avoid. In family law it is especially important to think a few steps ahead. Ignoring the letter forces the opposing party’s lawyer to do one thing – recommend that his or her client proceed to Court. Often times a lawyer may write a follow-up letter to remind the client ...

1 attorney answer

Law Offices Michael J. Brooks, Esquire#N#(215) 230-3761#N#Attorney@Law-Brooks.com “Perspective from the Legal Vantage Point”#N#www.Law-Brooks.com...

Michael J. Brooks

Law Offices Michael J. Brooks, Esquire#N#(215) 230-3761#N#Attorney@Law-Brooks.com “Perspective from the Legal Vantage Point”#N#www.Law-Brooks.com...

Is it expensive to hire a lawyer?

Hiring or retaining a lawyer is simply too expensive. Hiring a lawyer is expensive, but if a party is holding off on retaining one because they can’t afford the costs, there are options they should pursue.

How to hire a lawyer after receiving a letter?

Hiring a lawyer after receiving a letter is an excellent option. First of all , the individual will have the guidance and information they need to begin negotiating a settlement rather than immediately preparing for court. Second, the lawyer will start identifying their objectives and lining up what evidence they’ll need to win their case. If their position is weak, they will hear about it early on and know the reasons why. If their position is strong, they will know what they need to support their case. Simply put, the party would have a practical strategy on what to do and what not to do.

Can you have peace of mind that a letter was delivered?

With the 48% statistic, we mentioned above lost mail is more common than some people realize. With regular mail , you will not experience the peace of mind that your letter or package was delivered or not because there is no way of knowing unless the receiver tells you.

Can you send certified mail internationally?

Another requirement is that it has to be sent to anywhere in the United States. You do not have the option to send certified mail anywhere internationally. Anyone can choose to send something via certified mail but those that use it the most are businesses.

Why do companies use certified mail?

This is because many companies have to deal with business and regulatory reasons. Certified mail gives a business and a company peace of mind that what is being mailed out will be taken care of and they will know when it is delivered.

How long does USPS keep mail records?

As long as you keep the tracking information from the original certified mail form you originally fill out, USPS will keep records for ten years. If anything ever comes up in the future and you have to either confirm a delivery or dispute that you did send something out you can pull up these records from USPS for an entire decade.

Can you send a package via certified mail?

Believe it or not, you can send a package via certified mail to a P.O. Box. It still requires the recipient to sign for the package though. The postal service leaves a delivery notification for the recipient to bring to the local USPS window clerk.

How long does it take for USPS to destroy a package?

If something is valued under $25 USPS will destroy the letter or package after three months if they are not able to deliver it. If the package or letter is worth more than $25 then they auction the item.

Is certified mail worth it?

The answer is that it depends on what it is worth to you. Certified mail will give you the added security you might need for documents that contain sensitive information. Although it costs extra money it can be worth it for those documents that it can cost more money in the long run if they are not delivered.

How to hire a lawyer?

Hiring a lawyer also creates a few responsibilities for you as a client. As a client, your lawyer can expect you to the do the following: 1 Abide by the agreements that both of you sign 2 Gather all useful evidence and prepare any timelines that are requested 3 Keep your lawyer informed as to any new evidence that may come to light 4 Keep in mind that your lawyer may have other clients that need his or her time 5 Reply to requests from your attorney in a timely manner 6 Inform your lawyer, in advance, when you will not be able to attend certain hearings or other proceedings 7 Pay your bills on time 8 Not to lie to your attorney, and 9 Keep your relationship with your attorney as a business relationship.

What are the ethical rules of an attorney?

Although each state has their own set of ethical rules by which attorneys are expected to conduct their business, there are some common themes that run throughout all of them. These ethics rules generally require attorneys to: 1 Maintain the attorney-client privilege 2 Perform their duties to the degree of a reasonably competent attorney 3 Represent their client's interest loyally 4 Work within the bounds of the law 5 Maintain separate bank accounts for client money 6 Not engage in any criminal activities, and 7 Put their client's interests ahead of their own

How to communicate with a lawyer?

Lawyer communication, competency, ethics, and fees are important aspects of an attorney-client relationship. As a summary you can expect your lawyer to do the following: 1 Give you advice about your legal situation 2 Keep you informed about your case 3 Tell you what he or she thinks will happen in your case 4 Allow you to make the important decisions regarding your case 5 Give you an estimate about what your case should cost 6 Assist you in any cost-benefit analyses that you may need 7 Keep in communication with you 8 Inform you of any changes, delays or setbacks 9 Give you the information you need to make good decisions, and 10 Prepare you for your case, including deposition and trial preparation.

What are the issues with lawyers?

Disputes regarding attorneys' fees are perhaps the most common problem that clients have with their lawyers. Fee disputes typically arise for many reasons, but the following are the most common: 1 Complaints about bills being too high 2 Disagreements over what kinds of fees would be charged to the client 3 Disagreements over whether an itemized bill would be given 4 Concerns that a lawyer spent too long on a task that should have been relatively easy 5 Argument that because an attorney did a bad job, the bill should be reduced 6 Billing at an attorney's rate for work done by a paralegal or legal secretary 7 Complaints regarding over-charging for time spent on a case.

What is lawyer communication?

Lawyer communication refers to the correspondence and communication between a client and his/her attorney. If you have a lawyer communication problem, you may be wondering if you have a bad attorney or if he or she is doing a poor job on your case. You should know that many states have laws regarding when and how a lawyer must communicate with clients.

What is competency in law?

In addition to lawyer communication problems, you may also have problems with the competency of your lawyer's work. Competency relates to the core knowledge and expertise of an attorney in handling a client's legal issue. You should remember that lawyers are not machines and they are just as capable of making a mistake as anyone else ...

What is the most common problem with lawyers?

Disputes regarding attorneys' fees are perhaps the most common problem that clients have with their lawyers. Fee disputes typically arise for many reasons, but the following are the most common:

What can a lawyer advise you on?

A lawyer can advise you of what your chances are if you decide to fight what you have been accused of and what your potential liabilities might be. If you recently received a letter from a lawyer, contact the office of Eric Harron for a free consultation.

What does it mean to go to court?

Going to court puts the onus of the plaintiff to prove that you are in the wrong. Do not admit to anything that is in the letter if you are contacted by the lawyer who sent the letter. Anything that you respond with could be used against you in court.

Who Uses Certified Mail

When mail is sent as a certified delivery, you have to sign to receive the item. Your signature, or that of an authorized agent, is proof that you received the mail.

Look Up The Tracking Number

Each certified mail item has a unique tracking number so the location can be traced at every stage of the journey. Most U.S. Postal Service tracking numbers are 22 numbers long, nine of which comprise the mailer ID. This is the only identifier you'll get for the sender; USPS will not give you the sender's name until you have signed for your mail.

Collecting the Item

When you collect your item, hand over the form the letter carrier left for you, and the post office worker will bring out your mail. You are not permitted to receive or open the item until you have signed for it.

Refusing to Accept Certified Mail

You don't have to accept certified mail or collect the item from the post office. USPS will try to deliver the item three times after which it will return it to the sender marked "unclaimed." Take care when refusing certified mail, however, since it could have legal ramifications.