ComplaintsforHanlin Law Offices, P.A.

• Initial Complaint

  12/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  In February of 2022 my husband and I contacted Mr. Hanlin to help us open a family trust. Mr. Hanlin was paid $2,950 and he never completed the work. We have tried to contact him via telephone and he does not answer or return our calls. He has not returned our money as requested via phone message. I have filed a complaint with the office of disciplinary counsel and will begin a complaint with the state bar.

• Initial Complaint

  04/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Date of Transaction: May 29, 2022 Amount: $2125 What Business Committed to Provide: Hanlin Law Office, P.A. 1201 Main Street, Suite 1980 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 608-1519 May 29, 2022 VIA EMAIL ONLY: [email protected] *** **** ********** ********** 3 Regalgate Dr. Columbia, SC 29223 Re: Revocable Trust Estate Plan for *** **** ********** **********. Dear ****: This letter is the proposal and fee agreement we discussed last week for a Revocable Trust Estate Plan. This type of plan allows you to control the manner and timing of distributions of your assets, to protect your privacy, and to minimize costs over the long-term. The following will memorialize our agreement concerning the terms and conditions under which I will be acting as your attorney for estate planning. I. Services to be provided by Hanlin Law Office. P.A. (a) Collect information pertaining to assets and family circumstances of **** **********; (b) Prepare Revocable Trust Document and Assignment Document; (c) Prepare Pour-over Will; (d) Prepare Health Care Power of Attorney with full contact information for agents; (e) Prepare Durable General Power of Attorney, and file in the Richland County Register of Deeds Office after signature; (f) Prepare Memorandum of Tangible Personal Property, as directed; Supervise execution and witnessing of same, as necessary; and (h) Review assets and recommend re-titling as necessary to fully implement Trust plan. 2. Services Not Included. Nature of Dispute: Paid Hanlin $2125 and did not receive services which were paid for. I have called and emailed him and cannot get a reply. No account number given

• Initial Complaint

  03/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  We had a contract with Hal Halin to provide a Will and Trust and Hal has yet to provide the service. The contract price has already been paid.

• Initial Complaint

  09/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  In July of this year we contacted Mr. Hanlin in hopes he would help with a probate case of my mothers property who lives in SC. He agreed to take the case and money was exchanged and cashed on 2 August. After two weeks we had not heard from him and had to go to others means in order for him to reach out to us. This was the first red flag. After about another month of back and forth and no productivity we asked for a refund on the 6th of September in which he agreed and said he would have the full amount of 5150.00 returned to us within a week. It's well passed a week and he is not responding to my emails.

  Business response

  10/28/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/27) */ I did engage with this client to assist with her mother's property. I understood from her that she had engaged with several other attorneys in the past to resolve this matter and was not satisfied with any of them. I reviewed the documentation and other information provided by the customer. I searched County records for official records of the property and indicators of conveyances. I discussed my information and the correct procedure with the SC DMV General Counsel (the property consisted of an item titled there.) The DMV General Counsel also provided me with title information that we needed and did not have for the item. I transmitted the title information to the customer, with other information the DMV would require for re-titling the item. I advised the customer that, based upon the information supplied by the DMV General Counsel, a formal proceeding in Probate Court was needed to resolve her mother's property matter. I generated a Proposal and Fee Agreement accordingly and emailed that to her. The agreement was signed, and customer supplied the amount indicated by check sent by mail. I drafted a Petition for filing in the Probate Court and sent it to customer for review and correction. I contacted the Probate Court in the County where the property was located and determined that Court's unique requirements for our type of proceeding. Because of the Probate Court's instructions, a probate proceeding in another county would be required to fully resolve the property matter. I transmitted this information and my conclusions as to additional work needed because of the Probate Court's requirements to customer, and made my recommendations. By telephone, I made an oral proposal for proceeding with the second action at a 50% discount, but made no demand for those fees. I also recommended that delaying filing the second probate action by approximately two weeks would have a strategic advantage, and would allow us to conclude the second matter in a few weeks time rather than the nine months or so usually needed to conclude this type of proceeding. Customer agreed to delay the second filing. I obtained additional information from customer needed to revise the Petition based upon the Probate Court's stated requirements. I revised the Petition based upon the information provided to me by customer, and drafted several other documents to be provided to other parties to the Petition in the Probate Court. These additional documents would likely have had the effect of shortening the time needed to conclude the first Probate matter, and might have allowed us to avoid the hearing normally necessary in any formal Probate proceeding. (Customer lives out of state.) Customer let me know that my progress wasn't sufficient and that she wanted her unused fees returned. After I provided her with the additional documentation I had prepared, she requested that the entire amount that she had paid be returned to her. Because she was dissatisfied, I agreed to return the entire amount of the fees to the customer. I let her know that because work had been done, some of the fees had been consumed, but that I would replace those and return the entire fee to her even though our Agreement did not provide for this. I let her know that because some of the fee had been consumed, it would take some time to send her a check for the full amount. I did say that I would have her full refund processed in the next week, which I have been unable to do. I remain committed to provide customer with a full refund, though not required by our Agreement. I expect to provide a full refund next week. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/09/30) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Clarifying some of his statements. We were not dissatisfied with previous lawyers. Either they would not take the case at all or start then drop it. 14 Jul 2022 reached out to Mr. Hanlin and sent him a copy of the title and POA ourselves. 19 Jul asked if he was on board to take the case. Stated he would have a proposal to us in 24 hours. 22 Jul. asked him again on the status of him taking the case. 23 Jul sent Fee agreement. 29 Jul agreement signed and money sent. 18 Aug. two weeks since we heard from him. Check cashed. Contacted the SC bar association on what to do. Finally heard from him and his excuses was that he was out of town! Still working on proposal with needless errors. 1 Sept. he's still working on petition to the court 6 Sept sent him email letting him know we were not pleased with his work. Sent us draft documents of the summons and petition with errors again. At 6:58 pm sent him an email requesting a refund and canceling his services. 7 Sept. Mr. Hanlin sent a text in regards to his firing and full refund and information we never heard about before. Seemed relived about being let go. 20 Sept. Sent email regarding not having received the refund. No reply 22 Sept contacted SC bar association and the BBB. The bar association stated the would reach out to him to reach out to us. No contact . He states in his rebuttal that he was unable to pay the refund with in the stated timeframe. Why did he not respond to us when asked. 29 Sept and still have not heard from him. Can supply email and text notes if needed. We are just trying to make sure he does not take advantage of anyone else and of course to get our money back so that maybe we can find a lawyer who is on the up and up. If more information is needed please advise and thank you. ******** ******* Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/10/12) */ I sent in a rebuttal to what the lawyer had to say in regards to my complaint. As of this time I have not heard from him, received are refund or anything from your agency on the matter. What is the status and or what is the next step for myself besides going to the Bar association on him in which has already been done. Thank you for your time. ******** *******

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