Referral fee rules · Missouri
Referral fees in Missouri
Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 4-1.5(e) · Proportional work or joint responsibility
Missouri allows fee division between lawyers in different firms only if the division is in proportion to the services performed by each lawyer or each lawyer assumes joint responsibility for the representation. The client must agree to the association and that agreement must be confirmed in writing, and the total fee must be reasonable. Unlike the current Model Rule, the writing does not have to disclose the share each lawyer will receive.
What Missouri requires
- • Division proportional to services performed, or each lawyer assumes joint responsibility
- • Client agrees to the association
- • Agreement confirmed in writing (share disclosure not required)
- • Total fee is 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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The member tool takes both lawyers' jurisdictions, checks the division against each rule, flags anything that would not hold up, and drafts the agreement and the client consent. Membership is free.
Jurisdictions with a similar rule
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