Do I Need a Lawyer to Get Out of a Timeshare, and How Do I Find One?
At its heart, the condition of being stuck in a timeshare contract is a legal problem. Timeshare companies use the law when they get you to sign a contract and then use the law to justify charging outrageous, ever-rising annual maintenance fees and other costs. And, if you don’t do what they demand, they use the law to hurt you, with foreclosure and damage to your credit score. Given that so many of these problems are legal, it makes sense to wonder if you need a lawyer to help get out of timeshare contract problems.
Getting an attorney might seem like the right move, but it usually isn’t necessary, and it can be a costly mistake. While there are situations in which hiring a timeshare lawyer or law firm might be necessary (such as in the case of fraud or misrepresentation in sales tactics), they are limited. As a rule, lawyers and courts are expensive. Developers are also fully staffed with their own lawyers, and they are very comfortable using their vast resources against timeshare owners who have limited budgets and little experience with the legal system.
With the legal system so often stacked against timeshare owners, Centerstone Group often provides better, more economically feasible ways for owners to get out of their timeshare contracts, while still ensuring that owners are protected and have access to the best legal options every step of the way.
In this article, we’ll take a look at who offers legal services related to timeshares, where you can find timeshare cancellation attorneys, and whether and how you should get them through a timeshare exit company.
Who Offers Legal Assistance for Timeshare Exit?
Obviously, there’s no shortage of lawyers in the world. While any licensed attorney is technically qualified to represent you, you need to keep in mind that timeshare law is quite different from estate planning, personal injury, or other types of law.
According to the American Bar Association, attorneys have a duty to be competent to give legal advice in the areas of law in matters they accept for representation. That said, even a good consumer protection or real estate lawyer may not understand the nuances of timeshare law or the various tricks that timeshare companies employ.
For example, Mr. Green may advertise himself as a timeshare cancellation lawyer with expertise on getting out of contracts in your state. All of that might be true, but if Mr. Green has never worked with a timeshare company before, he might not be prepared for the timeshare company to avoid delivery of a cancellation letter, causing Mr. Green’s client to miss their rescission period — leading to a lengthy and expensive court battle.
Another problem is that lawyers will often tell timeshare companies that all communication should go through the lawyers instead of you. This can be a problem if your attorney decides to use a strategy of not paying the timeshare company while the dispute is pending. In that case, the results of ignoring your financial obligations could be disastrous, including foreclosure and damage to your credit.
The Pros and Cons of Low-Cost and No-Cost Options
In some cases, you might be able to get discounted or free legal services from a number of different sources. Members of the military in particular have access to on-post or on-base lawyers through the Judge Advocate General (JAG) program. These lawyers typically provide low-cost or no-cost consultation and services to military members and retirees.
While military lawyers may be high-quality, they generally are not well-versed in timeshare issues. Even a good lawyer may struggle or miss answers when working in an unfamiliar area.
If you’re not associated with the military, you can go to a legal aid office or clinic in your area. For example, in Las Vegas, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is a free law firm for lower-income individuals, and it has attorneys who are knowledgeable in consumer protection laws. Even in places like this, though, you may run into problems finding lawyers with specific timeshare experience.
While it’s possible to get a more experienced timeshare attorney referral from other sources, as you will see below, that method is not without its flaws.
Where Can I Find a Timeshare Attorney to Assist with Cancellation?
As you can see, just picking an attorney out of the phone book or your local business directory might not be the best way to go. Other ways of finding an attorney — while searching by relevant areas of experience — include lawyer.com and martindale.com. Martindale, in particular, rates attorneys based on reviews from other lawyers and judges, and gives you a good idea of an attorney’s general level of ability.
Keep in mind, though, these attorneys will not come cheap. Unlike a personal injury attorney, who might not take upfront fees and instead charges a contingency fee that they take from any recovery, a timeshare cancellation lawyer will almost certainly have an hourly fee. (Though some lawyers may offer a “flat fee” or single payment, you shouldn’t count on it in this type of case.)
One estimate shows fees between $150 and $500 per hour, with the average likely being far closer to $500. (Also keep in mind that you will have to put a lot of money upfront in the form of a “retainer” payment that will likely be thousands of dollars.) Over the course of months (or even years), that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in lawyer fees alone. Fees like those can make annual maintenance fees seem like nothing.
Which Timeshare Cancellation Companies Offer Legal Assistance Through Trusted Attorneys?
Many timeshare exit companies are happy to refer you to a lawyer. But make sure you’re working with a reputable timeshare exit company first. If not, the legal help you receive on their recommendation might not be worth the time and expense.
A Typical “Lawyer Referral” from a Timeshare Exit Company Can Cause Even More Problems
In the past, there have been several timeshare exit companies that simply passed clients off to so-called “timeshare lawyers.” Those layers would then get a signed power of attorney from timeshare clients and advise developers to only contact the attorney, not the owners.
While this strategy might take off the immediate pressure, it often leads to its own problems. For example, in the situation above, the attorneys would often receive bills and requests to pay fees from the developer, without telling the timeshare owner. The lawyers ignore those fees and requests, resulting in default by the owner, until the developer decides to foreclose.
Keep in mind – there are good and bad lawyers, and many lawyers would not do this! When thinking about how to find a timeshare lawyer, often, going through a timeshare exit company is one of the best methods.
But how your timeshare company finds a lawyer and why it does so are important points, and if they make mistakes, you will pay for them. A timeshare owner thinking about legal advice should be aware of these issues and ask a timeshare exit company about its procedures regarding legal referrals.
Centerstone Group's Legal Referrals Are Different
Unlike other timeshare exit companies, Centerstone Group knows that lawyers and costly legal service should not be your first resort. There are cheaper, faster, and often more effective things that ought to be tried first.
Sometimes, though, lawyers or even lawsuits are necessary to get owners the right solutions. For those cases, Centerstone Group has curated a list of the most competent, ethical, and effective timeshare exit attorneys all over the country. The segment of the legal community that not only understands the issues but also has the necessary experience to handle these matters is small.
In those cases where other options have not succeeded, and only then, Centerstone Group is happy to give its clients a referral to an attorney.
What Centerstone Group or its attorneys will never do is advise you to stop paying your mortgage, annual maintenance fees, or other costs. We do not want to cause more legal troubles for you, and we certainly do not want to multiply your expenses.
Good lawyers understand this reasoning and support our strategy. That’s why so many of our clients are lawyers and judges, even including one state supreme court judge! With Centerstone Group, you truly get the best of both worlds: decades of timeshare industry experience, legal expertise from the best attorneys, and the wisdom to know which to use at the right time.
When Exiting Your Timeshare, Make the Best Decision for Your Situation
Timeshare exit companies that simply give you a referral for legal representation are doing you a disservice. Attorneys and legal action should be a last resort. Just like a hammer is not the appropriate tool for every home improvement job, lawyers are not the answer to every legal problem. Before looking for a lawyer to help get out of timeshare contracts, consider getting expert advice as to what will actually work best in your situation.
That’s where Centerstone Group comes in. We know timeshare laws for each state and we have decades of experience to know when legal help is and is not warranted. That kind of expertise can save you a lot of money, time, and headaches. But don’t take our word for it. We are an accredited, A+-rated company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and our clients have given us a 4.79-out-of-5-star BBB rating and hundreds of testimonials.
If you are stuck in your timeshare, it might feel tempting to run to a lawyer’s office or even a courthouse. But before you start spending even more money, contact us for a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and show what we can do to get you the best possible results for the most reasonable price.
At its heart, the condition of being stuck in a timeshare contract is a legal problem. Timeshare companies use the law when they get you to sign a contract and then use the law to justify charging outrageous, ever-rising annual maintenance fees and other costs. And, if you don’t do what they demand, they use the law to hurt you, with foreclosure and damage to your credit score. Given that so many of these problems are legal, it makes sense to wonder if you need a lawyer to help get out of timeshare contract problems.
Getting an attorney might seem like the right move, but it usually isn’t necessary, and it can be a costly mistake. While there are situations in which hiring a timeshare lawyer or law firm might be necessary (such as in the case of fraud or misrepresentation in sales tactics), they are limited. As a rule, lawyers and courts are expensive. Developers are also fully staffed with their own lawyers, and they are very comfortable using their vast resources against timeshare owners who have limited budgets and little experience with the legal system.
With the legal system so often stacked against timeshare owners, Centerstone Group often provides better, more economically feasible ways for owners to get out of their timeshare contracts, while still ensuring that owners are protected and have access to the best legal options every step of the way.
In this article, we’ll take a look at who offers legal services related to timeshares, where you can find timeshare cancellation attorneys, and whether and how you should get them through a timeshare exit company.
Who Offers Legal Assistance for Timeshare Exit?
Obviously, there’s no shortage of lawyers in the world. While any licensed attorney is technically qualified to represent you, you need to keep in mind that timeshare law is quite different from estate planning, personal injury, or other types of law.
According to the American Bar Association, attorneys have a duty to be competent to give legal advice in the areas of law in matters they accept for representation. That said, even a good consumer protection or real estate lawyer may not understand the nuances of timeshare law or the various tricks that timeshare companies employ.
For example, Mr. Green may advertise himself as a timeshare cancellation lawyer with expertise on getting out of contracts in your state. All of that might be true, but if Mr. Green has never worked with a timeshare company before, he might not be prepared for the timeshare company to avoid delivery of a cancellation letter, causing Mr. Green’s client to miss their rescission period — leading to a lengthy and expensive court battle.
Another problem is that lawyers will often tell timeshare companies that all communication should go through the lawyers instead of you. This can be a problem if your attorney decides to use a strategy of not paying the timeshare company while the dispute is pending. In that case, the results of ignoring your financial obligations could be disastrous, including foreclosure and damage to your credit.
The Pros and Cons of Low-Cost and No-Cost Options
In some cases, you might be able to get discounted or free legal services from a number of different sources. Members of the military in particular have access to on-post or on-base lawyers through the Judge Advocate General (JAG) program. These lawyers typically provide low-cost or no-cost consultation and services to military members and retirees.
While military lawyers may be high-quality, they generally are not well-versed in timeshare issues. Even a good lawyer may struggle or miss answers when working in an unfamiliar area.
If you’re not associated with the military, you can go to a legal aid office or clinic in your area. For example, in Las Vegas, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is a free law firm for lower-income individuals, and it has attorneys who are knowledgeable in consumer protection laws. Even in places like this, though, you may run into problems finding lawyers with specific timeshare experience.
While it’s possible to get a more experienced timeshare attorney referral from other sources, as you will see below, that method is not without its flaws.
Where Can I Find a Timeshare Attorney to Assist with Cancellation?
As you can see, just picking an attorney out of the phone book or your local business directory might not be the best way to go. Other ways of finding an attorney — while searching by relevant areas of experience — include lawyer.com and martindale.com. Martindale, in particular, rates attorneys based on reviews from other lawyers and judges, and gives you a good idea of an attorney’s general level of ability.
Keep in mind, though, these attorneys will not come cheap. Unlike a personal injury attorney, who might not take upfront fees and instead charges a contingency fee that they take from any recovery, a timeshare cancellation lawyer will almost certainly have an hourly fee. (Though some lawyers may offer a “flat fee” or single payment, you shouldn’t count on it in this type of case.)
One estimate shows fees between $150 and $500 per hour, with the average likely being far closer to $500. (Also keep in mind that you will have to put a lot of money upfront in the form of a “retainer” payment that will likely be thousands of dollars.) Over the course of months (or even years), that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in lawyer fees alone. Fees like those can make annual maintenance fees seem like nothing.
Which Timeshare Cancellation Companies Offer Legal Assistance Through Trusted Attorneys?
Many timeshare exit companies are happy to refer you to a lawyer. But make sure you’re working with a reputable timeshare exit company first. If not, the legal help you receive on their recommendation might not be worth the time and expense.
A Typical “Lawyer Referral” from a Timeshare Exit Company Can Cause Even More Problems
In the past, there have been several timeshare exit companies that simply passed clients off to so-called “timeshare lawyers.” Those layers would then get a signed power of attorney from timeshare clients and advise developers to only contact the attorney, not the owners.
While this strategy might take off the immediate pressure, it often leads to its own problems. For example, in the situation above, the attorneys would often receive bills and requests to pay fees from the developer, without telling the timeshare owner. The lawyers ignore those fees and requests, resulting in default by the owner, until the developer decides to foreclose.
Keep in mind – there are good and bad lawyers, and many lawyers would not do this! When thinking about how to find a timeshare lawyer, often, going through a timeshare exit company is one of the best methods.
But how your timeshare company finds a lawyer and why it does so are important points, and if they make mistakes, you will pay for them. A timeshare owner thinking about legal advice should be aware of these issues and ask a timeshare exit company about its procedures regarding legal referrals.
Centerstone Group's Legal Referrals Are Different
Unlike other timeshare exit companies, Centerstone Group knows that lawyers and costly legal service should not be your first resort. There are cheaper, faster, and often more effective things that ought to be tried first.
Sometimes, though, lawyers or even lawsuits are necessary to get owners the right solutions. For those cases, Centerstone Group has curated a list of the most competent, ethical, and effective timeshare exit attorneys all over the country. The segment of the legal community that not only understands the issues but also has the necessary experience to handle these matters is small.
In those cases where other options have not succeeded, and only then, Centerstone Group is happy to give its clients a referral to an attorney.
What Centerstone Group or its attorneys will never do is advise you to stop paying your mortgage, annual maintenance fees, or other costs. We do not want to cause more legal troubles for you, and we certainly do not want to multiply your expenses.
Good lawyers understand this reasoning and support our strategy. That’s why so many of our clients are lawyers and judges, even including one state supreme court judge! With Centerstone Group, you truly get the best of both worlds: decades of timeshare industry experience, legal expertise from the best attorneys, and the wisdom to know which to use at the right time.
When Exiting Your Timeshare, Make the Best Decision for Your Situation
Timeshare exit companies that simply give you a referral for legal representation are doing you a disservice. Attorneys and legal action should be a last resort. Just like a hammer is not the appropriate tool for every home improvement job, lawyers are not the answer to every legal problem. Before looking for a lawyer to help get out of timeshare contracts, consider getting expert advice as to what will actually work best in your situation.
That’s where Centerstone Group comes in. We know timeshare laws for each state and we have decades of experience to know when legal help is and is not warranted. That kind of expertise can save you a lot of money, time, and headaches. But don’t take our word for it. We are an accredited, A+-rated company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and our clients have given us a 4.79-out-of-5-star BBB rating and hundreds of testimonials.
If you are stuck in your timeshare, it might feel tempting to run to a lawyer’s office or even a courthouse. But before you start spending even more money, contact us for a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and show what we can do to get you the best possible results for the most reasonable price.