I paid in Cashier's Check, given to the now deceased executor, for Paul Hardy to handle my father's…read morewill and probate in July of 2022. Unfortunately the executor also passed away in June of 2023 and I have been trying to get Paul Hardy to get me appointed replacement Administrator ever since.
Paul Hardy does not return phone calls nor does he keep weekly appointments that he has set up himself.
Finally, we had a court date on March 8, 2024 via zoom at his office. When I arrived at his office, no one was there and his phone number was disconnected. I never received notice of a phone number change or of the hearing being cancelled.
Finally I was able to contact Paul Hardy the following Monday through the help of a friend who apparently located Paul Hardy's cell phone number. He advised me to call him back on Wednesday because he was in court.
He also claimed that there was an Attorney Ad-Litem on my Dad's probate case who was stalling and demanding extra fees. I spoke with two probate clerks after, and there was never any order to appoint an Attorney Ad-Litem in my father's probate case.
I was actually unable to reach Paul Hardy until later. When I questioned about the Attorney Ad-Litem he admitted there wasn't one and said he didn't know why he said that. He then claimed my sister was refusing to sign a second waiver that the courts were demanding, and that was the cause of the delay, and that he would have to serve her.
None of this made sense to me, since supposedly he had already had my sister sign a waiver, yet it doesn't show up as filed on the case docket.
When I politely mentioned that prior to the executor's death, I had consulted other lawyers and they said replacing a deceased executor should be very simple, and I didn't understand what the issue was, he lost his temper. He interrupted me, yelling at me to, "Hire one of them then!"
When I again tried to speak, he yelled, "Stop interrupting me!" This happened twice. The final time, he shouted, "I'm done!" And hung up on me. I never received any further communication from Paul Hardy after this.
Only when I hired a replacement lawyer with a loan from a friend, did Paul Hardy formally file to withdraw from my father's case. And I had to personally call his office to make that happen.
I am currently homeless, living in National Parks while I wait for my father's probate to be restarted and completed. I was also my father's caregiver for 5 years. Paul Hardy knew all this, and I think he purposely tried to take advantage of the situation because of my difficulties.
I have also filed a formal grievance against Paul Hardy with the Texas State Bar, where it has been escalated into a Complaint.
You do not want to hire Paul hardy. I caught him in at least one lie I can prove, and suspect he lied to me at other times. He doesn't properly communicate and neglects and mishandles paperwork.
I cannot say this strongly enough, run, don't walk, if you are considering hiring Paul Hardy. He does not have his client's welfare in mind.
I would like to note that I was never anything but polite and civil with Mr. Hardy and his secretary, even after he raised his voice at me multiple times.