Lothamer Tax Resolution Lothamer Tax Resolution Not Real Tax Lawyers Michigan

Lothamer tax resolution claims that they are tax attorneys.  All of their advertising and communications are revolved around misleading their victims into believing that they are getting representation by a duly-licensed tax attorney.  This is not technically true.  If you hire this firm, they are NOT your attorneys.

Lothamer is a "tax resolution" firm, and not a "law firm."  That means that they are NOT tax attorneys

Even if they have people working there that happen to be licensed attorneys, that will never be your lawyer.  Only licensed law firms/offices are allowed to provide legal services.  If you hire them, there is no attorney-client relationship.  

Tax resolution firms like this one (and most others), make their money by misleading consumers into believing you are getting something from them that they cannot legally provide (representation by an attorney).  On one hand, all of their advertising leads would-be victims to believe that, if you hire their firm, you are getting a "tax attorney" to represent you.  At the same time, they rely on the fact that they are not "law firms" so that they can do things that real attorneys would lose their license for.

For example, a real tax attorney cannot legally split their fees with nonattorneys.  That means real lawyers are not allowed to hire commissioned salespeople.  This rule is important to protect consumers because commissioned salespeople (who have no training in the law) have a financial incentive to tell you whatever it takes to get you to sign up.  However, because this firm is not a law firm, they dont have to follow those rules.  When you call this firm for help, keep in mind that the person you are talking to is likely getting a cut of whatever fees you pay.  Also, that person is probably not a lawyer, and has never studied tax in law school.

Then, if you find out that these "tax attorney" firms lied to you to get you to sign up, there's not much you can do about it.  Because they are not real lawyers, the State Bar has no jurisdiction or oversight over this firm.  You can't file a grievance against the owner of the company because he is not an attorney.  He does not have a law license to lose if he does unethical things (like real lawyers).  Same goes for the salesperson who told you what you wanted to hear to get you to sign up.  He or she doesnt have a professional license to worry about losing either. 

Under Michigan law (MCL 450.681), what this firm is doing is actually a crime.  It is illegal for a firm that is not a law firm (like this one), to use the title of "attorney" in their marketing.  This is because, even if attorneys do happen to work there, they can never be YOUR lawyer.  That is because the company that they work for is not authorized to be in the business of providing attorneys to the public - only licensed law firms can do that.

Stay informed.  If you are interested in hiring a tax attorney to represent you, go to a law firm.