Lawyer got our settlement months ago and never told us — is this normal??

Oh my god, this is almost exactly what happened to me after my accident two years ago. I found out my lawyer had cashed the check through the portal too — total accident. When I finally got someone on the phone they acted like it was totally routine and I just "hadn't been notified yet." It is NOT routine. You have every right to know the moment funds land in that trust account. Don't let them make you feel like you're overreacting.

So ethically and in most states, attorneys are required to notify clients promptly — and I mean promptly — when settlement funds are received into their trust account. That's not just a courtesy, it's typically a professional conduct rule. Your brother should send a formal written request (email is fine, keep a copy) asking for a full accounting of any funds received, when they were received, and the current status of disbursement. That paper trail matters. If they continue to stonewall, he can look up his state bar's client complaint process — most bars take trust account issues seriously.

The firm may have already accepted a policy-limits offer without fully looping you in on what that means for the remaining bills. If the medical costs blow past that cap — which it sounds like they do — there are other avenues like underinsured motorist coverage that need to be chased down. Make sure you're asking specifically whether UIM was explored. Don't assume the attorney handled it.

Not legal advice, but I'll say this: what you're describing — funds sitting in a trust account with no client notification — raises real ethical flags in virtually every jurisdiction. Your brother has the right to a written accounting and to understand exactly what was settled, for how much, and what deductions are being taken before any disbursement. If communication has broken down this badly, a free consult with a different attorney about potentially substituting counsel is worth considering. It's more common than people think and doesn't have to blow up the case.

From the carrier side — once we cut a check to a represented claimant's attorney, our file closes. We consider it done. The attorney's office is 100% responsible for everything after that point. So if funds are sitting there and you're not being told, that's entirely on the firm, not the insurance company. Just want to make that clear because sometimes people think they can call the adjuster and sort it out. You can't — it's out of their hands now.

Send one more email today, subject line: "Written Request for Trust Account Accounting — [Brother's Full Name] — [Case Reference Number]." Keep it short and factual, no emotion. Give them five business days to respond in writing. If nothing, file a bar complaint and consult a new attorney in parallel. You're not being dramatic — this is their job.

Quick question — are you certain what you saw in the portal was actually a settled and deposited amount, and not just like a demand figure or an internal note? I'm not doubting you, I just want to make sure before escalating. Sometimes those portals show draft numbers or negotiation records that look like deposits. Worth clarifying exactly what the entry said before you go full confrontation mode with the firm.