Can Florida Lawyers Share Referral Fees?
Yes, but Florida is one of the most restrictive states. Fee divisions require joint responsibility and written client consent — and in contingency cases, the referring lawyer's share is presumptively capped at 25% of the fee unless a court approves more.
What FL requires
- Division proportional to services, OR each lawyer assumes joint legal responsibility and the client consents in writing
- In contingency matters: the lawyer assuming primary responsibility presumptively receives at least 75% of the fee — the referring/secondary lawyer at most 25% — absent court approval
- Total fee subject to Florida's detailed contingency fee schedule and client-signed statement of rights
How Florida compares to California
Florida sits at the opposite pole from California: joint responsibility is effectively required, contingency referral shares are presumptively capped at 25%, and exceeding the cap requires court approval — versus California's any-percentage-with-consent regime. For the full California treatment, see our CRPC 1.5.1 guide — or estimate a split with the referral fee calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum referral fee in Florida?
In contingency cases, the secondary (referring) lawyer is presumptively limited to 25% of the total fee. A larger share requires application to the court with disclosure of the division and the services performed.
Does Florida require client consent for fee splits?
Yes — in writing. In contingency matters the consent operates alongside the mandatory statement of client rights and the fee contract requirements of Rule 4-1.5(f).
Can an out-of-state lawyer receive a Florida referral fee?
Divisions with out-of-state lawyers must still satisfy Rule 4-1.5, and the out-of-state lawyer's own rules apply too. Confirm both jurisdictions before agreeing to the split.
Want this automated in Florida?
Tap2Refer currently automates referral fee compliance for California — e-signed fee agreements, automatic written client consent, audit-ready PDFs. Florida support is prioritized by demand. Leave your email and you'll be first to know (and first to shape it):
Practicing in California too? Start free today.
Referral fee rules in other states
California · New York · Texas · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Ohio · New Jersey · Georgia · Massachusetts · Washington
General information about Florida Bar Rule 4-1.5(f)–(g), current as of mid-2026 — not legal advice. Rules and interpretations change; verify against the current rules published by the Florida bar authority before relying on any summary.