I am part of the Camp Lejeune lawsuit and had filed a claim for my mother. The Camp Lejeune attorney told me I needed to open a probate case even though the military hasn't offered a settlement. Probate has to be in either North Carolina (where the case is being tried) or Wisconsin (where my parents lived). I chose Wisconsin because it looked like I could file the paperwork myself easily. Except, the clerk of Waushara County has decided that, since neither I nor my siblings live in Wisconsin, I have to pay an attorney who's in Wisconsin. Camp Lejeune attorney works (or is, I'm thinking) a company called Probate Pro who connects you to a probate attorney (for a fee, of course). They sent me to Heritage Law Office in Milwaukee.
First off, they have a client portal which I thought was nice. I receive an email that they "sent" me the probate paperwork. Don't know if they actually sent it through the mail because I never received it. So, I downloaded it from the portal, completed and signed it, and returned it. Never received notification it was received. Luckily, I had sent it so I could track it so I knew when it was received. But, never acknowledged receipt.
Probate for my mom's case was December 20th - never notified of this.
Don't know if the court date was changed but, when I checked the court cases again the next week, probate case is now January 8th.
I receive an email that there's new information in the client portal on New Years. Here's a message that probate has been approved and court is January 8th and can I be there (remember, I'm not in Wisconsin - that's why I need a Wisconsin attorney according to the circuit clerk). Now, if I knew the week prior that court was January 8th, why am I receiving a message on the 1st that court is in a week and can I please drive up north in the middle of winter? Bearing in mind, still no settlement offer so I should take two days off work, paying for gas and a hotel in the hopes the military offers us money.
I respond that night that no, I'd rather not drive to Wisconsin in the middle of winter and can this be done via Zoom instead.
Court is in three days and I have yet to receive a response.
All things considered, I would not have chosen this attorney and certainly won't be using them for my dad's case if the military ever offers to settle on that. read more