Referral fee rules · Georgia
Referral fees in Georgia
Ga. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(e) · Proportional work or joint responsibility
Georgia follows the ABA pattern: a division of fee between lawyers not in the same firm is allowed only if the division is in proportion to the services performed by each lawyer or, by written agreement with the client, each lawyer assumes joint responsibility for the representation. Georgia adds that the client must be advised of the share each lawyer is to receive (not just of the participation) and must not object, and the total fee must be reasonable. Pure referral fees are not permitted.
What Georgia requires
- • division proportional to services OR joint responsibility by written client agreement
- • client advised of the share each lawyer will receive
- • client does not object to participation of all lawyers
- • total fee reasonable
Source: read the rule text
Educational summary, not legal advice. Rules change and several turn on the facts of the matter. Confirm against the current rule text and your own jurisdiction's version before agreeing to divide a fee. Remember that both the referring and receiving lawyer's rules can apply.
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Jurisdictions with a similar rule
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