Can my lawyer bill me a year later for work done on a case?
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Can my lawyer bill me a year later for work done on a case?
Asked on August 28, 2011 New Hampshire
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
A lawyer can absolutely do this. In New Hampshire, the statute of limitations, or time to sue, for contracts (such as the agreement between an attorney and his client for the provision of services) is three years. Since a legal action may be brought on an amount due under a contract for up to three years after the conclusion of the work which gave rise to the lawyer's right to payment, the lawyer may actually bill you at any time within that three year period. While it's uncommon for an attorney to wait this long to seek payment, it's not illegal--nothing in the law says that the attorney gives up his or her right to payment simply because he or she took his or her time about submitting a bill to the client.
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