diff --git a/src/api/common/utils.js b/src/api/common/utils.js
index bb231ef6..30f49874 100644
--- a/src/api/common/utils.js
+++ b/src/api/common/utils.js
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ function composeAsync(wrapper: Wrapper, callback: Callback): Callback {
 function convertErrors(callback: Callback): () => void {
   return function(error, data) {
     if (error && !(error instanceof errors.RippleError)) {
-      const error_ = new errors.RippleError(error);
+      const message = _.get(error, ['remote', 'error_message'], error.message);
+      const error_ = new errors.RippleError(message);
       error_.data = data;
       callback(error_, data);
     } else if (error) {
diff --git a/src/api/ledger/balances.js b/src/api/ledger/balances.js
index d05704da..856031bd 100644
--- a/src/api/ledger/balances.js
+++ b/src/api/ledger/balances.js
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ const getTrustlines = require('./trustlines');
 const validate = utils.common.validate;
 const composeAsync = utils.common.composeAsync;
 const convertErrors = utils.common.convertErrors;
+import type {Remote} from '../../core/remote';
+import type {GetLedgerSequenceCallback} from '../../core/remote';
+
 
 function getTrustlineBalanceAmount(trustline) {
   return {
@@ -31,14 +34,25 @@ function getTrustlinesAsync(account, options, callback) {
     .catch(callback);
 }
 
+function getLedgerVersionHelper(remote: Remote, optionValue?: number,
+  callback: GetLedgerSequenceCallback
+) {
+  if (optionValue !== undefined && optionValue !== null) {
+    callback(null, optionValue);
+  } else {
+    remote.getLedgerSequence(callback);
+  }
+}
+
 function getBalancesAsync(account, options, callback) {
   validate.address(account);
   validate.getBalancesOptions(options);
 
-  const ledgerVersion = options.ledgerVersion
-                      || this.remote.getLedgerSequence();
   async.parallel({
-    xrp: _.partial(utils.getXRPBalance, this.remote, account, ledgerVersion),
+    xrp: async.seq(
+      _.partial(getLedgerVersionHelper, this.remote, options.ledgerVersion),
+      _.partial(utils.getXRPBalance, this.remote, account)
+    ),
     trustlines: _.partial(getTrustlinesAsync.bind(this), account, options)
   }, composeAsync(formatBalances, convertErrors(callback)));
 }
diff --git a/src/api/ledger/orders.js b/src/api/ledger/orders.js
index 9a765237..47e78577 100644
--- a/src/api/ledger/orders.js
+++ b/src/api/ledger/orders.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /* @flow */
 'use strict';
 const _ = require('lodash');
+const async = require('async');
 const utils = require('./utils');
 const validate = utils.common.validate;
 const composeAsync = utils.common.composeAsync;
@@ -26,17 +27,17 @@ function getOrdersAsync(account, options, callback) {
   validate.address(account);
   validate.getOrdersOptions(options);
 
-  const ledgerVersion = options.ledgerVersion
-                      || this.remote.getLedgerSequence();
   const getter = _.partial(requestAccountOffers, this.remote, account,
-                           ledgerVersion);
+                           options.ledgerVersion);
   utils.getRecursive(getter, options.limit,
     composeAsync((orders) => _.sortBy(orders,
       (order) => order.properties.sequence), callback));
 }
 
 function getOrders(account: string, options = {}) {
-  return utils.promisify(getOrdersAsync).call(this, account, options);
+  return utils.promisify(async.seq(
+    utils.getLedgerOptionsWithLedgerVersion,
+    getOrdersAsync)).call(this, account, options);
 }
 
 module.exports = getOrders;
diff --git a/src/api/ledger/transaction.js b/src/api/ledger/transaction.js
index 126dd353..8d13714e 100644
--- a/src/api/ledger/transaction.js
+++ b/src/api/ledger/transaction.js
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ function getTransactionAsync(identifier: string, options: TransactionOptions,
   validate.getTransactionOptions(options);
 
   const remote = this.remote;
-  const maxLedgerVersion =
-    options.maxLedgerVersion || remote.getLedgerSequence();
 
-  function callbackWrapper(error_?: Error, tx?: Object) {
+  function callbackWrapper(error_?: Error, tx?: Object,
+    maxLedgerVersion?: number
+  ) {
     let error = error_;
 
     if (!error && tx && tx.validated !== true) {
@@ -89,11 +89,19 @@ function getTransactionAsync(identifier: string, options: TransactionOptions,
     }
   }
 
+
+  function maxLedgerGetter(error_?: Error, tx?: Object) {
+    this.getLedgerVersion().then((version) => {
+      const maxLedgerVersion = options.maxLedgerVersion || version;
+      callbackWrapper(error_, tx, maxLedgerVersion);
+    }, callbackWrapper);
+  }
+
   async.waterfall([
     _.partial(remote.requestTx.bind(remote),
       {hash: identifier, binary: false}),
     _.partial(attachTransactionDate, remote)
-  ], callbackWrapper);
+  ], maxLedgerGetter.bind(this));
 }
 
 function getTransaction(identifier: string,
diff --git a/src/api/ledger/trustlines.js b/src/api/ledger/trustlines.js
index eefd1fd8..824de0c6 100644
--- a/src/api/ledger/trustlines.js
+++ b/src/api/ledger/trustlines.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /* @flow */
 'use strict';
 const _ = require('lodash');
+const async = require('async');
 const utils = require('./utils');
 const validate = utils.common.validate;
 const composeAsync = utils.common.composeAsync;
@@ -42,15 +43,15 @@ function getTrustlinesAsync(account: string, options: {currency: string,
   validate.address(account);
   validate.getTrustlinesOptions(options);
 
-  const ledgerVersion = options.ledgerVersion
-                      || this.remote.getLedgerSequence();
   const getter = _.partial(getAccountLines, this.remote, account,
-                           ledgerVersion, options);
+                           options.ledgerVersion, options);
   utils.getRecursive(getter, options.limit, callback);
 }
 
 function getTrustlines(account: string, options = {}) {
-  return utils.promisify(getTrustlinesAsync).call(this, account, options);
+  return utils.promisify(async.seq(
+    utils.getLedgerOptionsWithLedgerVersion,
+    getTrustlinesAsync)).call(this, account, options);
 }
 
 module.exports = getTrustlines;
diff --git a/src/api/ledger/utils.js b/src/api/ledger/utils.js
index 75a966d2..eb0fe5ee 100644
--- a/src/api/ledger/utils.js
+++ b/src/api/ledger/utils.js
@@ -103,17 +103,32 @@ function hasCompleteLedgerRange(remote: Remote, minLedgerVersion?: number,
   const firstLedgerVersion = 32570; // earlier versions have been lost
   return remote.getServer().hasLedgerRange(
     minLedgerVersion || firstLedgerVersion,
-    maxLedgerVersion || remote.getLedgerSequence());
+    maxLedgerVersion || remote.getLedgerSequenceSync());
 }
 
 function isPendingLedgerVersion(remote: Remote, maxLedgerVersion: ?number
 ): boolean {
-  const currentLedger = remote.getLedgerSequence();
+  const currentLedger = remote.getLedgerSequenceSync();
   return currentLedger < (maxLedgerVersion || 0);
 }
 
+function getLedgerOptionsWithLedgerVersion(account: string, options: Object,
+  callback: (err?: ?Error, account?: string, options: Object) => void
+) {
+  if (Boolean(options) && options.ledgerVersion !== undefined &&
+    options.ledgerVersion !== null
+  ) {
+    callback(null, account, options);
+  } else {
+    this.getLedgerVersion().then((version) => {
+      callback(null, account, _.assign({}, options, {ledgerVersion: version}));
+    }, callback);
+  }
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   getXRPBalance,
+  getLedgerOptionsWithLedgerVersion,
   compareTransactions,
   renameCounterpartyToIssuer,
   renameCounterpartyToIssuerInOrder,
diff --git a/src/api/server/server.js b/src/api/server/server.js
index 51417e27..55b182b5 100644
--- a/src/api/server/server.js
+++ b/src/api/server/server.js
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ function getServerInfoAsync(
 ): void {
   this.remote.requestServerInfo((error, response) => {
     if (error) {
-      const message =
-        _.get(error, ['remote', 'error_message'], error.message);
+      const message = _.get(error, ['remote', 'error_message'], error.message);
       callback(new common.errors.RippledNetworkError(message));
     } else {
       callback(null,
@@ -63,28 +62,40 @@ function getServerInfoAsync(
   });
 }
 
-function getFee(): number {
-  return common.dropsToXrp(this.remote.createTransaction()._computeFee());
+function getFee(): ?number {
+  if (!this.remote.getConnectedServers().length) {
+    throw new common.errors.RippledNetworkError('No servers available.');
+  }
+  const fee = this.remote.createTransaction()._computeFee();
+  return fee === undefined ? undefined : common.dropsToXrp(fee);
 }
 
-function getLedgerVersion(): number {
-  return this.remote.getLedgerSequence();
+function getLedgerVersion(): Promise<number> {
+  return common.promisify(this.remote.getLedgerSequence).call(this.remote);
 }
 
 function connect(): Promise<void> {
   return common.promisify(callback => {
-    this.remote.connect(() => callback(null));
+    try {
+      this.remote.connect(() => callback(null));
+    } catch(error) {
+      callback(new common.errors.RippledNetworkError(error.message));
+    }
   })();
 }
 
 function disconnect(): Promise<void> {
   return common.promisify(callback => {
-    this.remote.disconnect(() => callback(null));
+    try {
+      this.remote.disconnect(() => callback(null));
+    } catch(error) {
+      callback(new common.errors.RippledNetworkError(error.message));
+    }
   })();
 }
 
 function getServerInfo(): Promise<GetServerInfoResponse> {
-  return common.promisify(getServerInfoAsync.bind(this))();
+  return common.promisify(getServerInfoAsync).call(this);
 }
 
 function rippleTimeToISO8601(rippleTime: string): string {
diff --git a/src/api/transaction/utils.js b/src/api/transaction/utils.js
index a72b72fb..08636d42 100644
--- a/src/api/transaction/utils.js
+++ b/src/api/transaction/utils.js
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 /* @flow */
 'use strict';
 const _ = require('lodash');
+const async = require('async');
 const BigNumber = require('bignumber.js');
 const common = require('../common');
+const composeAsync = common.composeAsync;
 
 function setTransactionBitFlags(transaction: any, values: any, flags: any
 ): void {
@@ -19,9 +21,11 @@ function setTransactionBitFlags(transaction: any, values: any, flags: any
   }
 }
 
-function getFeeDrops(remote) {
+function getFeeDrops(remote, callback) {
   const feeUnits = 10; // all transactions currently have a fee of 10 fee units
-  return remote.feeTx(feeUnits).to_text();
+  remote.feeTxAsync(feeUnits, (err, data) => {
+    callback(err, data ? data.to_text() : undefined);
+  });
 }
 
 function formatPrepareResponse(txJSON) {
@@ -39,42 +43,64 @@ function formatPrepareResponse(txJSON) {
 type Callback = (err: ?(typeof Error),
                  data: {txJSON: string, instructions: any}) => void;
 function prepareTransaction(transaction: any, remote: any, instructions: any,
-    callback: Callback): void {
+    callback: Callback
+): void {
   common.validate.instructions(instructions);
 
   transaction.complete();
   const account = transaction.getAccount();
   const txJSON = transaction.tx_json;
 
-  if (instructions.maxLedgerVersion !== undefined) {
-    txJSON.LastLedgerSequence = parseInt(instructions.maxLedgerVersion, 10);
-  } else {
-    const offset = instructions.maxLedgerVersionOffset !== undefined ?
-      parseInt(instructions.maxLedgerVersionOffset, 10) : 3;
-    txJSON.LastLedgerSequence = remote.getLedgerSequence() + offset;
-  }
 
-  if (instructions.fee !== undefined) {
-    txJSON.Fee = common.xrpToDrops(instructions.fee);
-  } else {
-    const serverFeeDrops = getFeeDrops(remote);
-    if (instructions.maxFee !== undefined) {
-      const maxFeeDrops = common.xrpToDrops(instructions.maxFee);
-      txJSON.Fee = BigNumber.min(serverFeeDrops, maxFeeDrops).toString();
+  function prepareMaxLedgerVersion(callback_) {
+    if (instructions.maxLedgerVersion !== undefined) {
+      txJSON.LastLedgerSequence = parseInt(instructions.maxLedgerVersion, 10);
+      callback_();
     } else {
-      txJSON.Fee = serverFeeDrops;
+      const offset = instructions.maxLedgerVersionOffset !== undefined ?
+        parseInt(instructions.maxLedgerVersionOffset, 10) : 3;
+      remote.getLedgerSequence((error, ledgerVersion) => {
+        txJSON.LastLedgerSequence = ledgerVersion + offset;
+        callback_(error);
+      });
     }
   }
 
-  if (instructions.sequence !== undefined) {
-    txJSON.Sequence = parseInt(instructions.sequence, 10);
-    callback(null, formatPrepareResponse(txJSON));
-  } else {
-    remote.findAccount(account).getNextSequence(function(error, sequence) {
-      txJSON.Sequence = sequence;
-      callback(error, formatPrepareResponse(txJSON));
-    });
+  function prepareFee(callback_) {
+    if (instructions.fee !== undefined) {
+      txJSON.Fee = common.xrpToDrops(instructions.fee);
+      callback_();
+    } else {
+      getFeeDrops(remote, composeAsync((serverFeeDrops) => {
+        if (instructions.maxFee !== undefined) {
+          const maxFeeDrops = common.xrpToDrops(instructions.maxFee);
+          txJSON.Fee = BigNumber.min(serverFeeDrops, maxFeeDrops).toString();
+        } else {
+          txJSON.Fee = serverFeeDrops;
+        }
+      }, callback_));
+    }
   }
+
+  function prepareSequence(callback_) {
+    if (instructions.sequence !== undefined) {
+      txJSON.Sequence = parseInt(instructions.sequence, 10);
+      callback_(null, formatPrepareResponse(txJSON));
+    } else {
+      remote.findAccount(account).getNextSequence(function(error, sequence) {
+        txJSON.Sequence = sequence;
+        callback_(error, formatPrepareResponse(txJSON));
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  async.series([
+    prepareMaxLedgerVersion,
+    prepareFee,
+    prepareSequence
+  ], common.convertErrors(function(error, results) {
+    callback(error, results && results[2]);
+  }));
 }
 
 module.exports = {
diff --git a/src/core/orderbook.js b/src/core/orderbook.js
index 185f7ec0..b1a997d9 100644
--- a/src/core/orderbook.js
+++ b/src/core/orderbook.js
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ OrderBook.prototype.onTransaction = function(transaction) {
 
 
   if (--this._transactionsLeft === 0 && !this._waitingForOffers) {
-    const lastClosedLedger = this._remote.getLedgerSequence();
+    const lastClosedLedger = this._remote.getLedgerSequenceSync();
     if (this._isAutobridgeable) {
       if (this._canRunAutobridgeCalc()) {
         if (this._legOneBook._lastUpdateLedgerSequence === lastClosedLedger ||
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ OrderBook.prototype.notify = function(transaction) {
 
   this.emit('transaction', transaction);
 
-  this._lastUpdateLedgerSequence = this._remote.getLedgerSequence();
+  this._lastUpdateLedgerSequence = this._remote.getLedgerSequenceSync();
 
   if (!takerGetsTotal.is_zero()) {
     this.emit('trade', takerPaysTotal, takerGetsTotal);
diff --git a/src/core/remote.js b/src/core/remote.js
index 638def41..af4d73cf 100644
--- a/src/core/remote.js
+++ b/src/core/remote.js
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ const utils = require('./utils');
 const hashprefixes = require('./hashprefixes');
 const log = require('./log').internal.sub('remote');
 
+export type GetLedgerSequenceCallback = (err?: ?Error, index?: number) => void;
+
 /**
  * Interface to manage connections to rippled servers
  *
@@ -518,7 +520,34 @@ Remote.prototype._handleMessage = function(message, server) {
   }
 };
 
-Remote.prototype.getLedgerSequence = function() {
+/**
+ *
+ * @param {Function} [callback]
+ * @api public
+ */
+
+Remote.prototype.getLedgerSequence = function(callback = function() {}) {
+  if (!this._servers.length) {
+    callback(new Error('No servers available.'));
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (_.isFinite(this._ledger_current_index)) {
+    // the "current" ledger is the one after the most recently closed ledger
+    callback(null, this._ledger_current_index - 1);
+  } else {
+    this.once('ledger_closed', () => {
+      callback(null, this._ledger_current_index - 1);
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @api private
+ */
+
+Remote.prototype.getLedgerSequenceSync = function(): number {
   if (!this._ledger_current_index) {
     throw new Error('Ledger sequence has not yet been initialized');
   }
@@ -2307,6 +2336,32 @@ Remote.prototype.feeTx = function(units) {
   return server._feeTx(units);
 };
 
+/**
+ * Same as feeTx, but will wait to connect to server if currently
+ * disconnected.
+ *
+ * @param {Number} fee units
+ * @param {Function} callback
+ */
+
+Remote.prototype.feeTxAsync = function(units, callback) {
+  if (!this._servers.length) {
+    callback(new Error('No servers available.'));
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let server = this.getServer();
+
+  if (!server) {
+    this.once('connected', () => {
+      server = this.getServer();
+      callback(null, server._feeTx(units));
+    });
+  } else {
+    callback(null, server._feeTx(units));
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * Get the current recommended transaction fee unit.
  *
diff --git a/src/core/rippleerror.js b/src/core/rippleerror.js
index a9aed005..45096d17 100644
--- a/src/core/rippleerror.js
+++ b/src/core/rippleerror.js
@@ -1,30 +1,42 @@
-var util   = require('util');
-var extend = require('extend');
+'use strict';
 
-function RippleError(code, message) {
-  switch (typeof code) {
-    case 'object':
-      extend(this, code);
-      break;
+const util = require('util');
+const _ = require('lodash');
 
-    case 'string':
-      this.result = code;
-      this.result_message = message;
-      break;
+function RippleError(code?: any, message?: string) {
+  if (code instanceof Error) {
+    this.result = code;
+    this.result_message = code.message;
+  } else {
+    switch (typeof code) {
+      case 'object':
+        _.extend(this, code);
+        break;
+
+      case 'string':
+        this.result = code;
+        this.result_message = message;
+        break;
+    }
   }
 
-  this.engine_result = this.result = (this.result || this.engine_result || this.error || 'Error');
-  this.engine_result_message = this.result_message = (this.result_message || this.engine_result_message || this.error_message || 'Error');
-  this.result_message = this.message = (this.result_message);
+  this.engine_result = this.result = (this.result || this.engine_result ||
+    this.error || 'Error');
+  this.engine_result_message = this.result_message = (this.result_message ||
+    this.engine_result_message || this.error_message || 'Error');
+  this.message = this.result_message;
 
-  var stack;
+  let stack;
 
-  if (!!Error.captureStackTrace) {
+  if (Boolean(Error.captureStackTrace)) {
     Error.captureStackTrace(this, code || this);
-  } else if ((stack = new Error().stack)) {
-    this.stack = stack;
+  } else {
+    stack = new Error().stack;
+    if (Boolean(stack)) {
+      this.stack = stack;
+    }
   }
-};
+}
 
 util.inherits(RippleError, Error);
 
diff --git a/src/core/transaction.js b/src/core/transaction.js
index 0a54b4cb..6cd0a7ab 100644
--- a/src/core/transaction.js
+++ b/src/core/transaction.js
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ Transaction.prototype.setLastLedgerSequence = function(sequence) {
     assert(this.remote, 'Unable to set LastLedgerSequence, missing Remote');
 
     this._setUInt32('LastLedgerSequence',
-                    this.remote.getLedgerSequence() + 1
+                    this.remote.getLedgerSequenceSync() + 1
                     + this.getLastLedgerSequenceOffset());
   }
 
diff --git a/src/core/transactionmanager.js b/src/core/transactionmanager.js
index fb5c241d..872f61a1 100644
--- a/src/core/transactionmanager.js
+++ b/src/core/transactionmanager.js
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ TransactionManager.prototype._request = function(tx) {
     }
   }
 
-  tx.submitIndex = this._remote.getLedgerSequence() + 1;
+  tx.submitIndex = this._remote.getLedgerSequenceSync() + 1;
 
   if (tx.attempts === 0) {
     tx.initialSubmitIndex = tx.submitIndex;
diff --git a/test/api-test.js b/test/api-test.js
index 9e2f4225..0be3f414 100644
--- a/test/api-test.js
+++ b/test/api-test.js
@@ -52,13 +52,15 @@ describe('RippleAPI', function() {
   });
 
   it('preparePayment with all options specified', function() {
-    const localInstructions = {
-      maxLedgerVersion: this.api.getLedgerVersion() + 100,
-      fee: '0.000012'
-    };
-    return this.api.preparePayment(
-      address, requests.preparePaymentAllOptions, localInstructions).then(
-      _.partial(checkResult, responses.preparePaymentAllOptions, 'prepare'));
+    return this.api.getLedgerVersion().then((ver) => {
+      const localInstructions = {
+        maxLedgerVersion: ver + 100,
+        fee: '0.000012'
+      };
+      return this.api.preparePayment(
+        address, requests.preparePaymentAllOptions, localInstructions).then(
+        _.partial(checkResult, responses.preparePaymentAllOptions, 'prepare'));
+    });
   });
 
   it('preparePayment without counterparty set', function() {
@@ -637,8 +639,11 @@ describe('RippleAPI', function() {
     });
   });
 
-  it('getLedgerVersion', function() {
-    assert.strictEqual(this.api.getLedgerVersion(), 8819951);
+  it('getLedgerVersion', function(done) {
+    this.api.getLedgerVersion().then((ver) => {
+      assert.strictEqual(ver, 8819951);
+      done();
+    }, done);
   });
 
   it('getLedger', function() {
diff --git a/test/transaction-manager-test.js b/test/transaction-manager-test.js
index 7a083eec..aecd04c2 100644
--- a/test/transaction-manager-test.js
+++ b/test/transaction-manager-test.js
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ describe('TransactionManager', function() {
       assert.strictEqual(summary.submissionAttempts, 0);
       assert.strictEqual(summary.submitIndex, undefined);
       assert.strictEqual(summary.initialSubmitIndex, undefined);
-      assert.strictEqual(summary.lastLedgerSequence, remote.getLedgerSequence() + 1 + Remote.DEFAULTS.last_ledger_offset);
+      assert.strictEqual(summary.lastLedgerSequence, remote.getLedgerSequenceSync() + 1 + Remote.DEFAULTS.last_ledger_offset);
       assert.strictEqual(summary.state, 'failed');
       assert.strictEqual(summary.finalized, true);
       assert.deepEqual(summary.result, {