Technically speaking, this is how it usually works. There is a bill and that bill is going to be paid by the respondent. Now this bill does not mean that the contract between the petitioner and attorney is null and void. It simply means that in the worst case scenario, the petitioner may need to pay the attorney and the petitioner must then sue the respondent for contribution plus interest, most likely. In other words, why should the attorney be out if he or she was hired to perform legal services and performed those legal services in a successful manner.