I have $20K in personal legal expenses that I'm uncertain if I can claim them on my personal tax returns. Please advise

[Opus 17]

Generally, legal expenses are not deductible.  Only if the expenses are for producing income, or regaining lost income, or defending your right to income, or something income related.  Then they would either be business expenses on schedule C, or miscellaneous expenses subject to the 2% rule on schedule A.

[jerry2000]

Legal fees are generally not deductible. The two exceptions are for legal fees incurred to determine or collect any tax liability, and legal fees expended to secure taxable income.