Extremely Disappointing Experience -- Over $30,000 Billed in Four Months…read more
I retained Smith & Bledsoe Family Law on May 19, 2026, for a child support modification and related enforcement defense. My initial retainers totaled $12,500. By September 23, the firm's trust-account records showed $30,690 transferred to its operating account to pay invoices on these two matters: $23,212.50 for the modification and $7,477.50 for enforcement.
We never reached the final hearing during the firm's representation. I understand retainers are not fee caps and attorneys cannot control court schedules or opposing counsel. My dissatisfaction concerns case management, charges I believe were avoidable, and unresolved billing disputes.
One example involved my CPA and bookkeeper, both designated witnesses important to the financial issues. I provided their contact information on May 21 and again on May 27. When the September 14 final hearing was set on June 5, Nikki Chapa and I specifically discussed these witnesses and the time needed for preparation. I understood they would be promptly notified.
On June 29, I emailed asking whether they had been contacted about the hearing. Hearing subpoenas were not emailed to them until July 9. By July 22, their availability had become a significant issue.
I was then billed for work involving witness availability, subpoenas, scheduling, and related communications. Some charges were later discounted or made non-billable after I challenged them; others remained. In my opinion, confirming availability before agreeing to the setting, or promptly contacting the witnesses afterward, could have prevented much of this work and expense.
My billing concerns were specific. I reviewed activity reports line by line, marked disputed entries, and provided supporting explanations. I met with the firm on August 13 and followed up on August 14 after making another requested $7,210 retainer payment. Brandon Bledsoe promised a response by the following Tuesday. That deadline passed without a response.
After another follow-up, the firm responded on August 26 that it found no clerical errors and would not discount certain subpoena and strategy entries. But my concerns went beyond clerical errors. They included what I believed were duplicate charges, delays, corrective work, and witness-coordination problems.
I explained this again on August 28, requested a meeting to review the entries, and followed up on September 18. After more than eight weeks of trying to resolve these concerns, my own reconciliation identified approximately $2,700 in specific disputed charges. These remain disputed amounts, not an agreed overcharge.
I ultimately changed attorneys because I had lost confidence in the firm's case management and handling of my billing concerns. As of this review, funds remaining in trust have not been returned to me.
I expected to pay for legitimate legal work. I also expected careful coordination, reasonable oversight of expenses, and substantive responses to documented billing concerns. That was not my experience.
Based on my experience, I would not retain or recommend Smith & Bledsoe again. Prospective clients should closely review invoices, monitor retainer balances, and document important communications in writing.
