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If two lawyers are on your case

A second lawyer on a case is normal. A silent extra percentage is not. This is the published rule, state by state: what you have to sign, whether the split has to match the work, and where a cap actually exists. Written so a client can read it and a practitioner can bookmark it.

Last checked Sep 4, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.

Three things that are not the same number

You pay

The total fee

The contingency percentage in the engagement with the lawyer who handles the case. Often around a third of the recovery, sometimes more after a lawsuit. That is your number. Adding a second lawyer should not raise it just because two names are on the check.

They split

The lawyers' shares

A slice of that fee, not a second slice of the recovery. You agree in writing to each lawyer and each share. Florida caps some referring shares at 25% of the fee. California allows a true referral fee if the total does not go up.

Nobody else

No vendor in the fee

A website, an inbox, or a host does not take a percentage of a recovery. That is the rule against sharing fees with nonlawyers. Flat bills are fine. A silent marketing cut is not.

The map

A live name is a page.

By state

51 pages. Fifty states and the District of Columbia.

AL

Third path: contingency forwarding fee

Alabama

Ala. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

AK

Model Rule, by firm, contribution not hours

Alaska

Alaska R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

AZ

Firms jointly working, client-signed writing

Arizona

Ariz. R. Prof. Cond. ER 1.5(e)

AR

Older Model Rule: advised, does not object

Arkansas

Ark. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

CA

True referral fee (Rule 1.5.1)

California

Cal. Rules of Prof. Cond. 1.5.1

CO

The split lives in 1.5(d). 1.5(e) was repealed.

Colorado

Colo. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(d)

CT

Advised in writing, does not object

Connecticut

Conn. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

DE

Advised in writing, does not object

Delaware

Del. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

DC

Model Rule, plus who does what

District of Columbia

D.C. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

FL

Model Rule plus a PI cap

Florida

R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-1.5(g), 4-1.5(f)(4)(D)(i)

GA

Model Rule, client advised of each share

Georgia

Ga. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

HI

Both, and it lives in 1.5(f)

Hawaii

Haw. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(f)

ID

Model Rule 1.5(e). Fee fights are 1.5(f).

Idaho

Idaho R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

IL

Referral as the primary service, plus joint financial responsibility

Illinois

Ill. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

IN

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Indiana

Ind. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

IA

Model Rule, numbered 32:1.5

Iowa

Iowa R. Prof. Cond. 32:1.5(e)

KS

Referral portion named. Lives in 1.5(g).

Kansas

Kan. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(g)

KY

Model Rule, numbered 3.130(1.5)

Kentucky

Ky. SCR 3.130(1.5)(e)

LA

Each lawyer must do meaningful work

Louisiana

La. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

ME

Consent to the other lawyer and to the terms

Maine

Me. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

MD

Model Rule, joint representation in writing

Maryland

Md. Attorneys' R. Prof. Cond. 19-301.5(e)

MA

Referral fee named in the rule

Massachusetts

Mass. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

MI

Notice and no objection

Michigan

Mich. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

MN

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Minnesota

Minn. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

MS

Older Model Rule: advised, does not object

Mississippi

Miss. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

MO

Model Rule, agreement to the association

Missouri

Mo. R. Prof. Cond. 4-1.5(e)

MT

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Montana

Mont. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

NE

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Nebraska

Neb. R. Prof. Cond. § 3-501.5(e)

NV

Subsection (1) is reserved. Writing and a reasonable total.

Nevada

Nev. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

NH

Referring-lawyer agreement, client-signed writing

New Hampshire

N.H. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(f)

NJ

RPC 1.5(e), plus the certified-attorney exception

New Jersey

N.J. RPC 1.5(e); RPC 7.2(c), 7.3(d); R. 1:39-6(d)

NM

Model Rule, numbered 16-105

New Mexico

N.M. R. Prof. Cond. 16-105(E)

NY

Model Rule 1.5(e) style

New York

N.Y. Rules of Prof. Cond. 1.5(g)

NC

Model Rule 1.5(e)

North Carolina

N.C. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

ND

Written consent after consultation. Shares not required in the text.

North Dakota

N.D. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

OH

Model Rule, plus a signed closing statement

Ohio

Ohio R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

OK

Model Rule, shares not in the sentence

Oklahoma

Okla. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

OR

Informed consent to the fact of a division. Lives in 1.5(d).

Oregon

Or. RPC 1.5(d)

PA

Notice and no objection

Pennsylvania

Pa. R.P.C. 1.5(e)

RI

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Rhode Island

R.I. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

SC

Model Rule 1.5(e)

South Carolina

S.C. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

SD

Model Rule 1.5(e)

South Dakota

S.D. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

TN

Model Rule, shares disclosed if asked

Tennessee

Tenn. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

TX

Model Rule, consent before the referral

Texas

Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof. Cond. 1.04(f)

UT

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Utah

Utah R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

VT

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Vermont

Vt. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

VA

Consent in advance, preferably in writing

Virginia

Va. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

WA

Model Rule 1.5(e)

Washington

Wash. RPC 1.5(e)

WV

No 1.5(e). The split lives in a comment.

West Virginia

W. Va. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5 cmt. [5]

WI

Three doors, including a signed referral writing

Wisconsin

Wis. SCR 20:1.5(e)

WY

Both. Not either.

Wyoming

Wyo. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)

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