Lawyer Demanding Payment for Refused Mediation Costs After 4 Years
Oct 08, 2025
8 views
0 answers
Family Law
► Court cases with my wife were going on since 2015, domestic violence, dowry and all, In 2021, I filed an appeal against a maintenance order issued in favor of my wife. During proceedings, my lawyer suggested mediation as a settlement option.
The court mandated payment of ₹33,000 before mediation could commence. I explicitly refused this payment and clearly communicated to my lawyer that I would not pay any amount for mediation. I did not consent to proceed with mediation under these financial conditions. And no mediation happened.
Now we are divorced already by ex-parte, which my wife filed and I did not appear in court and got ex-parte divorce. with no alimony. Also please note She also re-opened and put application for not paying her maintenance as per court order but then herself stopped coming in court and case was dismissed.
Current Problem:
After 4 years (October 2025), I received a notice from my lawyer demanding payment of "litigation expenses" - referring to the same ₹33,000 mediation fee I had refused in 2021.
Legal Questions:
Am I legally obligated to pay expenses for a mediation which never happened, to process I explicitly refused to participate in?
Can a lawyer demand payment for court-mandated fees when the client clearly declined that particular legal route?
Is there any statute of limitations on such demands after 4 years of silence?
Should I respond to this notice, and if so, what would be the appropriate legal response?
What are the potential consequences of not responding to this demand?
Seeking Advice On:
My legal liability in this situation
Appropriate course of action
Whether this constitutes a valid legal claim after such an extended period
Any guidance from legal professionals would be greatly appreciated.
8 views
0 answers
0 Answers
No answers yet. Be the first to answer this question!
Log in as a legal professional to answer this question.