Notice and no objectionMI
Michigan fee division
Michigan's rule is short. Two lawyers may divide a fee if you are advised of the lawyers involved and you do not object, and the total fee is reasonable. The text does not require the split to match the hours and does not require joint responsibility.
Last checked Sep 4, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
- The rule
- Mich. R. Prof. Cond. 1.5(e)
- What you sign
- The client is advised of and does not object to the participation of all the lawyers involved. The total fee is reasonable. Put the advice and the lack of objection in writing even though the rule's floor is notice.
- How the split is allowed
- No proportional-work or joint-responsibility requirement in 1.5(e). Ethics opinions still expect the client to know who to call and who is responsible.
- Any cap on the referring share
- No Florida-style 25% cap. The total must be reasonable. Michigan no-fault auto thresholds are a different statute. Do not mix them with this rule.
- Who is not in the fee
- A nonlawyer does not take a percentage of the recovery. Hosting, ads, and software get a flat or metered bill. That is ABA Model Rule 5.4 in substance, and every state on this desk follows it.
For the lawyer on the other end
Michigan 1.5(e) is the old ABA formulation, not Model Rule 1.5(e). Do not import joint-responsibility language as if the Supreme Court put it in the text.
A conflicted lawyer cannot assume the representation and then take a referral cut. See Evans & Luptak v. Lizza.