How does an Austin landlord-tenant lawyer help on my case?

You have rights under Texas law as a tenant. For example, under TX Property Code Sec. 92.103 and Sec. 92.108 , landlords must return your security deposit less any rightful returns within 30 days after your lease ends, or they could be liable for a penalty of 3x a month’s rent in addition to your attorney’s fees.

Having rights does not mean that you can automatically collect upon them, but rather you have to issue a demand or file a lawsuit. Your demand must have sufficient evidence, and effectively link the facts of your situation to the law and relevant statute, in order for you to collect. Your Austin landlord-tenant dispute lawyer can help. Your attorney steps into your shoes and takes over all communications and negotiations with the opposing party, and their attorney if they have one.

Attorney Westerman has a track-record of success negotiating pretrial settlements. Everything can be done virtually, from reviewing and signing your engagement letter, paying, and signing any associated settlement offers to resolve your claim.

What Usually Happens if I’m Trying to Get Back a Security Deposit from a landlord in Austin, Texas?

While no two cases are alike, oftentimes your security deposit demand after hiring an attorney will result in 1 of 2 main things:

1) You get your security deposit back

• Whether your former landlord pays your attorney’s fee is uncertain, so consider whether Westerman Law’s fixed rate of $950 to issue a security deposit demand is worth the amount you might get, less the $950. For example, if the security deposit you have not been refunded was for $2,050, and your attorney’s fees are $950, you would receive $1,100 over your cost if your landlord pays the security deposit without attorney’s fees.

2) Your former landlord refuses, and you must file a lawsuit

• Your former landlord’s refusal to refund your security deposit may require the filling of a lawsuit. If you have signed an engagement letter and paid the requisite deposit, local Austin landlord-tenant Attorney Westerman can advise you on what your best options are

Will I Win Absolutely Everything I Expect and Think I Deserve?

Dispute settlement often is not about getting exactly what you want, but a fair compromise between the interests of all parties involved. Attorney Westerman does not promise miracles, but will provide diligent and appropriately aggressive representation to achieve the best possible outcome in your situation.

The unique facts and circumstances of your case will determine what options are available to you. Note that Attorney Westerman can only provide information relevant to your case after you have signed a letter of engagement and paid the requisite deposit.

How do I know if my case is a fit with Westerman Law PLLC?

Westerman Law PLLC will determine if your case is a fit through a brief review of the basic information of your case submitted through the form. If it might be a fit, and you are a tenant, you will be contacted via email with options.

The sole purpose of Westerman Law PLLC’s initial review of the basic information of your concern is to determine if your case is a fit with Westerman Law PLLC and the unique experience and skills of Attorney Westerman. Submitting the form does not guarantee a return message.

Only cases and clients that might be a fit will be contacted, through email or text. Do not contact Westerman Law PLLC for free advice, and consider the rates covered below before reaching out.

How Much is my Travis County Landlord-Tenant Dispute Lawyer/Williamson County Property Dispute Attorney from Westerman Law PLLC?

For tenant-landlord disputes, your Williamson County landlord-tenant dispute attorney from Westerman Law PLLC offers a pretrial fixed rate package, which includes initial case review, drafting, and issuing a pre-trial demand/offer of settlement to the opposing party, with 1-hour of communications between any parties to the case. Thereafter the hourly rate goes active. Full details and terms will be provided in the engagement letter for review, if/when you are presented with the option to engage by reviewing the engagement letter and request for payment, digitally/online at your convenience.

Can I Get Free Legal Advice to Help on My Case?

No, Westerman Law PLLC does not offer free legal services, and is unable to provide information relevant to the unique facts and circumstances of your case unless and until a letter of engagement has been signed, and the relevant deposit has been paid in full.

However, there are free legal services available through Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, and information through the Austin Tenants’ Council. These organizations provide great resources concerning what your rights are as a tenant.

When your rights are being violated however, it takes more than knowledge of the law to enforce them, it requires informed, experienced, and aggressive legal advocacy, and free advice can take you only so far.

If we take your case, Attorney Westerman will step into your shoes and demand whatever you might be legally entitled to, communicating, negotiating, and as necessary arguing in court on your behalf, taking the stress out of your day-to-day life.