Mad if you go to Maddens
I can only relay my experience, but don't ever use Maddens Lawyers Warrnambool + Melbourne / Brendan Pendergast & his team.
Inherited these lawyers from an existing matter which they were handling. In that matter, they held a trust fund & failed to ensure the dispute was settled in a timely manner. They then kept the money for a further two years without investing it (Even in a Bank) - causing it's value to substantially decrease - then unduly delayed paying it out to the Executor with a Grant of Probate.
Over and above this, they failed to seek out a suitable relative to be an Attorney (Financial & Medical) or to pursue action of a Vic Trustees guardianship order through VCAT so as to manage the estate.
After the beneficiary died, the appointed Executor produced the Grant of Probate -- Yet Brendan wanted an original paper document of such -- Trouble is the Courts started electronic versions 2-3 years prior.
They are extremely slow & Poor Communicators, Usually fail to respond to questions, often failed to return phone calls + emails and can't provide the simplest of correct advice -- let alone sound advice - if any. Claim they are very experienced , yet fail to know the law & leave you wondering how the processes work.
Any information sent to them was just too much to read - even a 12 mins read document, sent by the executor to advise her position of events.
Maddens wouldn't even provide a history of the Estate to the Executor.
They also failed to provide a quote of costs upfront - A Huge NoNo in the legal field.
Then when they were forced to by a directions hearing - provided one of the most expensive quotes to bring the matter up to mediation.
Maddens then also had the gaul to charge us for the time they took to read and discuss our complaints to their Principals about their delays in payment of Trust fund to the Executor!
Had to sack them, made a very substantial complaint to the VLSBC who are investigating them.
(Note VLSBC had to appoint a senior investigator - the matter is that serious!)
I assure you I would never complain about one or two issues. Theirs was systemic.
With my experience, I would never touch them with a bargepole!.
As chalk is to cheese & Black is to White when comparing Maddens to my new Lawyer Firm, who listened to my concerns, asked for read ALL the case information, then were happy to provide basic upfront advice, answer questions, provide a plan of action and upfront costs & disclose an estimate of full costs -- ALL BEFORE HIRING THEM!
They also respond to my questions with in 24Hrs!
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