{"meta":{"dataset":"fees","title":"Attorney fee caps and contingency-fee rules, by state and federal program","version":"1.0.0","doi":"10.5281/zenodo.23656738","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656738","conceptDoi":"10.5281/zenodo.23656737","license":"CC BY 4.0","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","attribution":"Source: Probative, Attorney fee caps and contingency-fee rules, by state and federal program, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656738, licensed CC BY 4.0.","citation":"Probative. (2026). Attorney fee caps and contingency-fee rules, by state and federal program (Version 1.0.0) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656738","disclaimer":"Not legal advice. This is a plain-English summary of public sources, kept for marketing planning, and rules change. Check with your state bar and your own counsel before you sign a fee agreement.","notice":"Probative is a marketing firm, not a law firm; not legal advice.","lastChecked":"2026-10-25","url":"https://probativegrowth.com/data/v1/fees/fees.json","humanUrl":"https://probativegrowth.com/research/attorney-fee-caps-by-state/","statusCodes":{"P":"primary source","S":"secondary source","D":"ABA model default","U":"open question"}},"key":"jurisdiction","records":[{"id":"fed-ssa-406a","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"Social Security says a fee agreement for work before the agency can pay the lesser of 25% of past-due benefits or $9,200, for favorable decisions on or after November 30, 2024.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2024-11-30","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"SSA notice, 89 FR 40523 (2024-05-10)","url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2024/05/10/2024-10248.txt","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"We are increasing the maximum dollar amount limit for fee agreements approved under the Social Security Act (the Act) to $9,200."},{"label":"SSA notice, 90 FR 19241 (2025-05-06)","url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2025/05/06/2025-07813.txt","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"With the publication of this Notice the $9,200 fee cap will remain in effect"},{"label":"42 U.S.C. 406(a)(2)(A) (US Code 2024, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title42/html/USCODE-2024-title42-chap7-subchapII-sec406.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the fee specified in the agreement does not exceed the lesser of"},{"label":"42 U.S.C. 406(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title42/html/USCODE-2024-title42-chap7-subchapII-sec406.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"25 percent of the total amount of such past-due benefits (as determined before any applicable reduction"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The statute's own figure is $4,000; the Commissioner raises it by Federal Register notice. A Federal Register API search on 2026-10-25 found no notice after 90 FR 19241, which says SSA will publish only when it raises the cap. SSA's own fee-agreement page (ssa.gov) returned 403 to our script and was not used. Fees outside the agreement process go through a fee petition.","program":"ssdi-ssi","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"lesser-of","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":9200,"scale":[],"base":"past-due benefits","approval":"agency","formalities":["written fee agreement filed with SSA before the decision"],"citation":"42 U.S.C. 406(a)(2)(A); 1383(d)(2)(A); 89 FR 40523; 90 FR 19241"},{"id":"fed-ssa-406b","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"For work in federal court on a Social Security case, the statute lets the court allow a reasonable fee of no more than 25% of past-due benefits, separate from any agency-level fee.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"42 U.S.C. 406(b)(1)(A) (US Code 2024, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title42/html/USCODE-2024-title42-chap7-subchapII-sec406.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"a reasonable fee for such representation, not in excess of 25 percent of the total of the past-due benefits"},{"label":"Culbertson v. Berryhill (2019), syllabus (supremecourt.gov)","url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/586us1r06_olq2.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Thus, the 25% cap applies only to fees for representation before the court, not the agency."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"DATA_PRODUCTS.md planned this as a U row for a Supreme Court case taken in April 2025 on the 406(b) cap. We could not find that case on an official source; the question it describes was decided in Culbertson (2019), quoted here. Status P on the statute and Culbertson; re-check the Supreme Court docket before publishing.","program":"ssdi-ssi","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"past-due benefits awarded because of the court judgment","approval":"judge","formalities":[],"citation":"42 U.S.C. 406(b)(1)(A); Culbertson v. Berryhill, 586 U.S. 53 (2019)"},{"id":"fed-ftca-admin","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"The Federal Tort Claims Act says a lawyer may not take more than 20% of an administrative settlement with the agency.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"28 U.S.C. 2678 (US Code 2024, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title28/html/USCODE-2024-title28-partVI-chap171-sec2678.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"or in excess of 20 per centum of any award, compromise, or settlement made pursuant to section 2672 of this title"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Charging more is a federal crime under the same section (fine and up to one year).","program":"ftca","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"an administrative award, compromise or settlement (28 U.S.C. 2672)","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"28 U.S.C. 2678"},{"id":"fed-ftca-suit","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"The Federal Tort Claims Act says a lawyer may not take more than 25% of a court judgment or of a settlement reached after the lawsuit is filed.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"28 U.S.C. 2678 (US Code 2024, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title28/html/USCODE-2024-title28-partVI-chap171-sec2678.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"in excess of 25 per centum of any judgment rendered pursuant to section 1346(b) of this title or any settlement made pursuant to section 2677"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Same section as the 20% administrative cap.","program":"ftca","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"a judgment, or a settlement after suit is filed (28 U.S.C. 1346(b), 2677)","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"28 U.S.C. 2678"},{"id":"fed-va-direct-pay","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"For VA benefits, when VA pays the lawyer directly from past-due benefits, the statute caps the total fee at 20% of those benefits.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"38 U.S.C. 5904(d)(1) (US Code, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/38/5904?link-type=html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the total fee payable to the agent or attorney may not exceed 20 percent of the total amount of any past-due benefits awarded on the"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Fees are generally allowed only after an initial decision on the claim (5904(c)). See fed-va-reasonableness for agreements VA does not pay directly.","program":"va","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"past-due benefits awarded","approval":"agency","formalities":["written fee agreement filed with VA"],"citation":"38 U.S.C. 5904(d)(1)"},{"id":"fed-va-reasonableness","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"VA's rule says a fee of 20% or less of past-due benefits is presumed reasonable and a fee over 33 1/3% is presumed unreasonable.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"38 CFR 14.636(f)(1) (eCFR, current)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-38?part=14&section=14.636","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Fees which exceed 33 1 ⁄ 3 percent of any past-due benefits awarded shall be presumed to be unreasonable."},{"label":"38 U.S.C. 5904(a)(5) (US Code, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/38/5904?link-type=html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"A fee that does not exceed 20 percent of the past due amount of benefits awarded on a claim shall be presumed to be reasonable."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"These are rebuttable presumptions, not an absolute ceiling: clear and convincing evidence can rebut either one (14.636(f)(1)). The 33 1/3 figure is stored as 33.33.","program":"va","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"percent","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"presumption","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"past-due benefits awarded","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"38 U.S.C. 5904(a)(5); 38 CFR 14.636(f)(1)"},{"id":"fed-longshore","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"Under the Longshore Act, the lawyer's fee must be approved by the district director, the Board or the court; the law sets no percent.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"33 U.S.C. 928(a) (US Code, GPO)","url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/33/928?link-type=html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"a reasonable attorney's fee against the employer or carrier in an amount approved by the deputy commissioner, Board, or court"},{"label":"20 CFR 702.132 (eCFR, current)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-20?part=702&section=702.132","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Any fee approved shall be reasonably commensurate with the necessary work done"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The statute's 'deputy commissioner' is now the district director. Also applies to Defense Base Act claims, which use the Longshore procedures (not separately read).","program":"longshore","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the compensation award; the fee is usually paid by the employer or carrier","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee application itemizing hours and rates"],"citation":"33 U.S.C. 928; 20 CFR 702.132"},{"id":"fed-black-lung","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"For federal black lung claims, the rule says no fee is valid unless it is approved, and no advance fee contract is valid.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"20 CFR 725.365 (eCFR, current)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-20?part=725&section=725.365","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"No fee charged for representation services rendered to a claimant with respect to any claim under this part shall be valid unless approved under this"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Program value 'other'; propose adding 'black-lung'.","program":"other","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"black lung benefits claims","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"20 CFR 725.365"},{"id":"fed-feca","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"US","status":"P","text":"For federal employees' compensation (FECA), the fee must be approved by the Labor Department before it is collected, and contingency fees are not allowed.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"20 CFR 10.702 (eCFR, current)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-20?part=10&section=10.702","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Contingency fees are not allowed in any form."},{"label":"20 CFR 10.702(b) (eCFR, current)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-20?part=10&section=10.702","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Before any fee for services can be collected, however, the fee must be approved by the Secretary."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Program value 'other' because FECA is not in the planned enum; propose adding 'feca'.","program":"other","jurisdictionName":"Federal","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"services before the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs","approval":"agency","formalities":["itemized fee application","no contingency fee"],"citation":"20 CFR 10.702"},{"id":"wc-al","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"AL","status":"U","text":"We could not read Alabama's official code text for the workers' compensation fee rule, so the cap is unknown here.","value":"unknown","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The Alabama Legislature's official code site (alison.legislature.state.al.us) loads section text only through a script our fetcher cannot run, and the Alabama Department of Workforce workers' compensation pages we read do not restate the fee rule. Secondary sources commonly report a 15% cap; not used. Retry in a browser.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Alabama","capType":"unknown","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"unknown","formalities":[],"citation":"Ala. Code § 25-5-90 (not read)"},{"id":"wc-ak","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"AK","status":"P","text":"Alaska's statute says lawyer fees in a workers' comp claim are valid only if the board approves them, and it sets a minimum fee, not a maximum.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Alaska Statutes § 23.30.145 (Alaska Legislature)","url":"https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=23.30.145&secEnd=23.30.145","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"are not valid unless approved by the board, and the fees may not be less than 25 percent on the first $1,000 of compensation"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Unusual: the statute sets a floor (at least 25% of the first $1,000 and 10% of the rest) when fees are awarded, not a ceiling. No statutory maximum percent was found in § 23.30.145. Board regulations (8 AAC 45) were not read.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Alaska","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"compensation","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Alaska Stat. § 23.30.145(a)"},{"id":"wc-az","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"AZ","status":"P","text":"Arizona's statute says the Industrial Commission sets the lawyer's fee, and it may not be more than 25% of the award.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Arizona Revised Statutes § 23-1069 (Arizona Legislature)","url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/23/01069.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall be not more than twenty-five per cent up to ten years from the date of the award."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"For installment payments, no more than 25% of any one installment may be withheld for the fee. The fee's reasonableness can be reviewed by the commission on application.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Arizona","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the award, up to ten years from the date of the award (five years where the case involves solely loss of earning capacity)","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-1069"},{"id":"wc-ar","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"AR","status":"U","text":"We could not read an official source for Arkansas's workers' compensation fee rule, so the cap is unknown here.","value":"unknown","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission site (awcc.state.ar.us) returned 403 Forbidden to our fetcher, and the official code is hosted by a commercial publisher. Secondary sources report a 25% fee on indemnity benefits split between employer and employee; not used. Retry in a browser.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Arkansas","capType":"unknown","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"unknown","formalities":[],"citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-715 (not read)"},{"id":"wc-ca","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"CA","status":"P","text":"California's appeals board rules say the workers' comp judge sets a reasonable fee, and the board's guideline for average cases is 9% to 12% of the award.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"8 CCR § 10844, Reasonable Attorney's Fee (Department of Industrial Relations)","url":"https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/10844.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"In establishing a reasonable attorney's fee, the workers' compensation judge or arbitrator shall consider the"},{"label":"WCAB Policy and Procedural Manual § 1.140 (Department of Industrial Relations)","url":"https://www.dir.ca.gov/wcab/WCAB_Policy_ProcedureManual/Policy_andProcedure_Manual.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"In cases of average complexity, the WCAB believes that a reasonable fee will be in the range of 9 percent to 12 percent"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No fixed statutory percent was read. The 9-12% range is a guideline for judges (manual § 1.140, effective October 6, 2003) and fees above 12% are allowed for above-average complexity. Labor Code § 4906 (fee approval) could not be read: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov returned 403 to our fetcher. California is kept in reference data only.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"California","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"permanent disability indemnity, death benefit or compromise and release awarded (guideline)","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Cal. Lab. Code § 4906 (not read; blocked); 8 CCR § 10844; WCAB Policy and Procedural Manual § 1.140"},{"id":"wc-co","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"CO","status":"P","text":"Colorado's statute says a contingent fee above 25% of the contested benefits is presumed unreasonable in a contested case that is not appealed.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"C.R.S. § 8-43-403 (Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Office of Legislative Legal Services PDF)","url":"https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-08.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"On unappealed contested cases, a contingent fee exceeding twenty-five percent of the amount of contested benefits is presumed to be unreasonable."},{"label":"C.R.S. § 8-43-403(2)","url":"https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-08.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Any attorney who represents any party in a workers' compensation case shall provide the party with a written fee agreement"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"25% is a presumption, not an absolute bar: the director may approve more if the case was appealed or took an extraordinary amount of time. No contingent fee on previously incurred medical benefits in a permanent disability award. Text is from the 2024 CRS printout (labelled uncertified); the 2025 edition was not found at the same path. Secondary sources often say 20%; the statute we read says 25%.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Colorado","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"presumption","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount of contested benefits (unappealed contested cases)","approval":"agency","formalities":["written fee agreement"],"citation":"Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-43-403(1), (2)"},{"id":"wc-ct","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"CT","status":"P","text":"Connecticut's statute says all lawyer fees in a workers' comp case must be approved by the administrative law judge; it names no percent.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-327 (Connecticut General Assembly, chapter 568)","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_568.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"All fees of attorneys, physicians, podiatrists or other persons for services under this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the administrative law judge."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No statutory percent. Secondary sources describe a 20% commission guideline; we did not find it on an official page, so it is not recorded.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Connecticut","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-327(b)"},{"id":"wc-de","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"DE","status":"P","text":"Delaware's statute says the board awards a reasonable fee of up to 30% of the award or 10 times the state's average weekly wage, whichever is smaller.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"19 Del. C. § 2320(10) (Delaware Code Online)","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title19/c023/sc01/index.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"A reasonable attorneys' fee in an amount not to exceed 30 percent of the award or 10 times the average weekly wage in Delaware"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"This is a fee-shifting award paid by the other party when the employee is awarded compensation, not a cap on a private fee agreement. The dollar cap moves with the average weekly wage announced by the Secretary of Labor, so dollarCap is left null.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Delaware","capType":"lesser-of","percent":30,"percentKind":"fee-award","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the award (fee taxed as costs against a party); alternative cap of 10 times Delaware's average weekly wage","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"19 Del. C. § 2320(10)(a)"},{"id":"wc-dc","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"DC","status":"P","text":"The D.C. Code says no lawyer fee may be approved above 20% of the benefit the lawyer secured, including settlements.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"D.C. Code § 32-1530 (D.C. Council Law Library)","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/32-1530","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"At no time shall an attorney’s fee be approved in excess of 20% of the actual benefit secured through the efforts of the attorney."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Fees are approved by the Mayor (the agency) or the court. Section history shows D.C. Law 3-77 (1980); the date subsection (f) was added was not checked.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"District of Columbia","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the actual benefit secured through the efforts of the attorney, including settlements","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"D.C. Code § 32-1530(f)"},{"id":"wc-fl","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"FL","status":"P","text":"Florida's statute says a judge must approve any fee, and the fee equals 20% of the first $5,000 of benefits, 15% of the next $5,000 and 10% after that (5% after 10 years).","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Fla. Stat. § 440.34 (2026, The Florida Senate)","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/440.34","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"must equal to 20 percent of the first $5,000 of the amount of the benefits secured, 15 percent of the next $5,000"},{"label":"Fla. Stat. § 440.34(7)","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/440.34","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the judge of compensation claims may approve an alternative attorney’s fee not to exceed $1,500 only once per accident"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Approval is by the judge of compensation claims. For disputed medical-only claims a judge may approve an alternative fee up to $1,500 at $150 an hour. The Florida Supreme Court has held the mandatory schedule unconstitutional as applied where it yields an unreasonable fee (Castellanos v. Next Door Co., 2016); that ruling was not re-read here, so treat the schedule as the statute's text, not the whole law.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Florida","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":5000,"percent":20},{"from":5000,"to":10000,"percent":15},{"from":10000,"to":null,"percent":10,"note":"benefits provided during the first 10 years after the claim is filed"},{"from":null,"to":null,"percent":5,"note":"benefits secured after 10 years"}],"base":"the amount of the benefits secured","approval":"judge","formalities":[],"citation":"Fla. Stat. § 440.34(1), (7)"},{"id":"wc-ga","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"GA","status":"P","text":"Georgia's board rules say a lawyer's fee contract filed with the board may not be more than 25% of the weekly benefits recovered.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"State Board of Workers' Compensation Rules, 2026 edition, Rule 108","url":"https://sbwc.georgia.gov/document/publication/2026-rules/download","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"No contract shall be filed with the Board which provides for a fee greater than 25 percent of the recovery of weekly benefits."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The contract must be filed with the Board as soon as the lawyer is hired. Fees are generally limited to 400 weeks of income benefits unless the Board approves longer. The statute itself (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-108) was not read directly; the Board's own rule restates the 25% limit.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Georgia","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the recovery of weekly benefits","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee contract filed with the Board"],"citation":"O.C.G.A. § 34-9-108; Ga. SBWC Rule 108(a)(1)"},{"id":"wc-hi","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"HI","status":"P","text":"Hawaii's statute says lawyer fee claims are not valid unless the director, appeals board or court approves them, and it names no percent.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"HRS § 386-94 (Hawaii State Legislature)","url":"https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0386/HRS_0386-0094.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Claims for services shall not be valid unless approved by the director or, if an appeal is had, by the appeals board"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Approval considers skill, time, complexity, benefits obtained and customary hourly rates. Taking a fee without approval can draw a fine of up to $25,000. Hawaii administrative rules (HAR 12-10) were not read.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Hawaii","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Haw. Rev. Stat. § 386-94"},{"id":"wc-id","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"ID","status":"P","text":"Idaho's commission rule presumes a fee is reasonable at 25% of the money recovered, or 30% once a hearing has been held, and the commission must approve attorney fees.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2022-03-23","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Idaho Code § 72-803 (Idaho Legislature)","url":"https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title72/t72ch8/sect72-803/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Claims of attorneys and claims for medical services and for medicine and related benefits shall be subject to approval by the commission"},{"label":"IDAPA 17.01.01.802, Rule Governing Approval of Attorneys Fees","url":"https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/17/170101.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"attorney's fees normally do not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the benefits your attorney obtains for you"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"These are presumptions of reasonableness in a commission rule, not an absolute statutory cap; a higher fee needs approval. The rule's section dates read (3-23-22).","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Idaho","capType":"percent","percent":30,"percentKind":"presumption","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"stage":"no hearing on the merits","percent":25},{"stage":"hearing held and briefs submitted or waived","percent":30},{"stage":"total permanent disability compensation after ten years","percent":15}],"base":"Available Funds","approval":"agency","formalities":["signed fee disclosure statement"],"citation":"Idaho Code § 72-803; IDAPA 17.01.01.802"},{"id":"wc-il","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"IL","status":"P","text":"Illinois's statute says a lawyer's workers' comp fee may not be more than 20% of the compensation recovered unless the Commission allows more after a hearing.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"820 ILCS 305/16a (Illinois General Assembly)","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/082003050K16a.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall exceed 20% of the amount of compensation recovered and paid, unless further fees shall be allowed to the attorney"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"In death and total or partial disability cases the fee is also capped at 20% of what 364 weeks of permanent total disability would pay. Where liability is not disputed and benefits are paid on time, fees in listed cases are fixed at a nominal amount of no more than $100.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Illinois","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount of compensation recovered and paid","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"820 ILCS 305/16a"},{"id":"wc-in","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"IN","status":"P","text":"Indiana's statute sets a fee schedule of 20% of the first $50,000 recovered and 15% above that, with a $200 minimum, and the board can order a different fee.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"IC 22-3-1-4, Schedule of Attorney Fees (Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana)","url":"https://www.in.gov/wcb/attorneys/schedule-of-attorney-fees","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Twenty percent (20%) of the first fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) of recovery. (3) Fifteen percent (15%) of the recovery in excess"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Read from the Worker's Compensation Board's own page reproducing the statute; the Indiana General Assembly's code site was not read. Minimum fee $200; 10% of the value of unpaid, out-of-pocket or future medical expenses. The board keeps continuing jurisdiction over fees.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Indiana","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":50000,"percent":20},{"from":50000,"to":null,"percent":15},{"item":"unpaid, out-of-pocket or future medical expenses","percent":10}],"base":"the recovery","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Ind. Code § 22-3-1-4"},{"id":"wc-ia","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"IA","status":"P","text":"The statute says the workers' compensation commissioner must approve legal fees, and a fee may be based only on benefits the employer would not have paid without the lawyer; it sets no percent.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Iowa Code 2026 ch. 10A, §10A.327 Fees — approval (Iowa Legislature PDF)","url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/10A.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"All fees or claims for legal, medical, hospital, and burial services rendered under this subchapter and chapters 85, 85A, 85B, and 87 are subject to"},{"label":"Iowa Code 2026 §10A.327(2)","url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/10A.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"An attorney shall only recover a fee based on the amount of compensation that the attorney demonstrates would not have been paid to the employee"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Iowa's workers' compensation chapter 86 was moved to chapter 10A, subchapter III, by 2023 Acts ch. 19, so the old cite §86.39 is now §10A.327. The statute names no percentage. We did not read the commissioner's administrative rules (876 IAC) for a numeric guideline; any percentage seen in practice is not from the statute.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Iowa","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"compensation the attorney shows would not have been paid but for the attorney's efforts","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee approval by the workers' compensation commissioner"],"citation":"Iowa Code §10A.327 (formerly §86.39)"},{"id":"wc-ks","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"KS","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer's fee may not be more than a reasonable amount or 25% of the compensation recovered, whichever is less, and the fee contract must be approved by the director.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"K.S.A. 44-536(a) (Kansas Legislature, 2025-26 statute text)","url":"https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/statute/044_000_0000_chapter/044_005_0000_article/044_005_0036_section/044_005_0036_k/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall exceed a reasonable amount for such services or 25% of the amount of compensation recovered and paid, whichever is less, in addition to actual"},{"label":"K.S.A. 44-536(b)","url":"https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/statute/044_000_0000_chapter/044_005_0000_article/044_005_0036_section/044_005_0036_k/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"All attorney fees in connection with the initial or original claim for compensation shall be fixed pursuant to a written contract between the attorney and"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"In death and total or partial disability cases the 25% is figured on no more than 415 weeks of permanent total disability benefits. Where nothing was disputed before the lawyer was hired, or the result does not beat the employer's prior written offer, the fee is limited to $250 or a reasonable hourly fee (44-536(e)).","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Kansas","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount of compensation recovered and paid","approval":"agency","formalities":["written contract","approval by the director"],"citation":"K.S.A. 44-536"},{"id":"wc-ky","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"KY","status":"P","text":"The statute says that for contracts signed on or after July 14, 2018, the fee is at most 20% of the first $25,000, 15% of the next $25,000 and 10% of the rest, never more than $18,000, and a judge must approve it.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2018-07-14","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"KRS 342.320 (Kentucky General Assembly)","url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47622","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(20%) of the first twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of the award, fifteen percent (15%) of the next twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), and ten percent (10%)"},{"label":"KRS 342.320(4)","url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47622","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"No attorney's fee in any case involving benefits under this chapter shall be paid until the fee is approved by the administrative law judge"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Contracts signed after July 14, 2000 and before July 14, 2018 keep the older scale: 20% / 15% of the next $10,000 / 5%, capped at $12,000. Secondary summaries that still give $12,000 describe the older contracts only.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Kentucky","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":18000,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":25000,"percent":20},{"from":25000,"to":50000,"percent":15},{"from":50000,"to":null,"percent":10}],"base":"the award","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee approved by an administrative law judge","motion for approval within 30 days of finality","notarized payment-method form signed by the employee"],"citation":"KRS 342.320(2)(b)"},{"id":"wc-la","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"LA","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer's fee for an injured worker may not be more than 20% of the amount recovered, and a workers' compensation judge must approve it.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"La. R.S. 23:1141(B) (Louisiana State Legislature)","url":"https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=83378","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The fees of an attorney who renders service for an employee coming under this Chapter shall not exceed twenty percent of the amount recovered."},{"label":"La. R.S. 23:1141(A)","url":"https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=83378","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Claims of attorneys for legal services arising under this Chapter shall not be enforceable unless reviewed and approved by a workers' compensation judge."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Last amended by Acts 2004, No. 647. Under R.S. 23:1201(I) (not quoted here), the 20% limit does not apply to fees an employer or insurer is ordered to pay as a penalty.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Louisiana","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount recovered","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee reviewed and approved by a workers' compensation judge"],"citation":"La. R.S. 23:1141"},{"id":"wc-me","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"ME","status":"P","text":"The statute says the board sets maximum fees by rule, but in a case tried to completion the maximum may not exceed 30% of the benefits accrued, and lump-sum settlements for injuries since 2020 are capped at 10%.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"39-A M.R.S. §325(3) (Maine Revisor of Statutes)","url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec325.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The maximum attorney's fees prescribed by the board in a case tried to completion may not exceed 30% of the benefits accrued, after deducting reasonable"},{"label":"39-A M.R.S. §325(2)","url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec325.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The fees and payment of fees to all attorneys for services provided to employees under this Act are subject to the approval of the board."},{"label":"39-A M.R.S. §325(6)(B), injuries on or after January 1, 2020","url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec325.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The computation of the fee, based on the amount resulting after deductions according to paragraph A , may not exceed 10%."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"30% is the statutory ceiling on what the board's rules may allow; the board's own rule (not read here) sets the working schedule. Lump-sum settlements: 10% for injuries on or after January 1, 2020 (§325(6)); a 10%-down-to-5% sliding scale for older injuries (§325(4)).","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Maine","capType":"percent","percent":30,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the benefits accrued, after deducting reasonable expenses","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee approval by the Workers' Compensation Board"],"citation":"39-A M.R.S. §325"},{"id":"wc-md","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MD","status":"P","text":"The Commission's rule says that for permanent partial disability the fee is up to 20% of the first $50,000, 15% of the next $50,000 and 5% above $100,000, with a total cap of 60 times the state average weekly wage.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"COMAR 14.09.04.03 Schedule of Attorney's Fees (Library of Maryland Regulations)","url":"https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/14.09.04.03.aspx","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the Commission may approve an attorney’s fee in a total amount not to exceed 60 times the State average weekly wage and computed as follows:"},{"label":"COMAR 14.09.04.03C(3)(a)","url":"https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/14.09.04.03.aspx","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(i) Up to 20 percent of the first $50,000 of the total award of compensation; (ii) Up to 15 percent of the next $50,000 of"},{"label":"COMAR 14.09.04.03A","url":"https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/14.09.04.03.aspx","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The Commission shall approve attorney’s fees in accordance with the schedule of fees established by the Commission and set forth in §C of this regulation"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The total-dollar cap moves with the state average weekly wage, so no fixed dollar figure is recorded. Other case types have their own caps: permanent total disability up to 25 times the state average weekly wage; contested temporary benefits 10% of accrued compensation. The statute, Lab. & Empl. §9-731, did not load from mgaleg.maryland.gov for our script; the rule was read instead.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Maryland","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":50000,"percent":20},{"from":50000,"to":100000,"percent":15},{"from":100000,"to":null,"percent":5}],"base":"the award of compensation for permanent partial disability (indemnity only, medical excluded)","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee approval by the Workers' Compensation Commission","claimant's consent to pay fees form"],"citation":"COMAR 14.09.04.03"},{"id":"wc-ma","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MA","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer's fee from a lump-sum settlement may be no more than 15% if the insurer had not accepted liability, or 20% after liability was accepted or found; most other fees are fixed amounts the insurer pays.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"M.G.L. c. 152, §13A(8)(b) (Massachusetts Legislature)","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter152/Section13A","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"such fee shall be no more than twenty percent of amount of such settlement"},{"label":"M.G.L. c. 152, §13A(8)(a)","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter152/Section13A","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"such fee shall be no more than fifteen percent of the amount of such settlement"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Outside lump sums, Massachusetts sets flat fees paid by the insurer at each stage (for example, $700 or $1,000 base amounts in §13A(1)-(2)), and the statute says those dollar amounts are adjusted each October 1. Percent recorded is the higher of the two lump-sum caps.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Massachusetts","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount of a lump-sum settlement under section 48","approval":"agency","formalities":["settlement approval"],"citation":"M.G.L. c. 152, §13A"},{"id":"wc-mi","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MI","status":"P","text":"The agency's rule says that in a case tried to completion, the fee a magistrate may approve is no more than 30% of the accrued compensation after expenses; the statute says all fees need a magistrate's approval.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"MCL 418.858(1) (Michigan Legislature)","url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-418-858","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The payment of fees for all attorneys and physicians for services under this act shall be subject to the approval of a worker's compensation magistrate."},{"label":"R 408.44(2), Workers' Disability Compensation Agency General Rules, final rule package 2020-031 (JCAR 21-55), Michigan Legislature","url":"https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Publications/JCAR/JCAR%20Files/2021%20Documents%20Received/Final%20JCAR%20Packages/2020-031%20LE%20(JCAR%2021-55)%20Workers'%20Disability%20Compensation%20Agency-General%20Rules%20FinalRule_StrikeBold_Version.doc.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The fee that the magistrate may approve shall not be more than 30% of the balance."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The rule text was read in the 2021 final rule package posted by the Legislature (strike-and-bold version); the compiled Michigan Administrative Code download returned an error. Redemption (settlement) fees follow a separate, lower scale in R 408.44(3); because the strike-and-bold formatting is lost in plain text, we do not record those tiers. MCL 418.858(2) bases the fee on benefits no higher than 2/3 of the state average weekly wage.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Michigan","capType":"percent","percent":30,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the accrued compensation, after deducting reasonable expenses","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee approval by a workers' compensation magistrate"],"citation":"MCL 418.858; Mich. Admin. Code R 408.44"},{"id":"wc-mn","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MN","status":"P","text":"The statute says the maximum fee is 20% of the first $275,000 of compensation awarded, and all fees for the same injury together may not exceed $55,000.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Minn. Stat. §176.081 subd. 1(a) (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes)","url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/176.081","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"A fee for legal services of 20 percent of the first $275,000 of compensation awarded to the employee is the maximum permissible fee and does"},{"label":"Minn. Stat. §176.081 subd. 1(b)","url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/176.081","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"All fees for legal services related to the same injury are cumulative and may not exceed $55,000."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Fees within the formula need no approval; larger fees can be sought from a compensation judge (Irwin v. Surdyk's Liquor, 1999, struck the parts barring court review). The same section still prints a retainer 'Notice of Maximum Fee' stating the older 20% of the first $130,000 / $26,000 figures, so the statute is internally inconsistent; the operative cap in subd. 1 is recorded. History lists amendments in 2023 c 51 and 2024 c 97; we did not confirm which act set $275,000 or its effective date.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Minnesota","capType":"lesser-of","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":55000,"scale":[],"base":"the first $275,000 of compensation awarded","approval":"none","formalities":["signed retainer agreement with a notice of maximum fee","statement of attorney fees on the commissioner's form"],"citation":"Minn. Stat. §176.081, subd. 1"},{"id":"wc-ms","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MS","status":"U","text":"The Workers' Compensation Commission says no fee over $200 is valid unless the Commission approves it; we could not read the official statute text to confirm the percentage cap.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission, notice to claimant's attorneys on employment contracts","url":"https://www.mwcc.ms.gov/atos/pdf/Claimantemploymentcontracts.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Miss. Code § 71-3-63 and Commission Rule 2.12 state that no claim for a fee greater than $200 for legal services rendered shall be valid"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Secondary sources (a code reproduction, a law-firm article and a 2013 Mississippi Bar ethics opinion) say §71-3-63 caps the fee at 25% of the total award and that Procedural Rule 2.12 computes it on the settlement's present value. Mississippi publishes its code only through a LexisNexis viewer our script cannot read, and we did not find the Commission's current rules PDF, so the 25% figure is not recorded as a value. The approval requirement is primary. Re-check from the official code or the Secretary of State's administrative code.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Mississippi","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"agency","formalities":["attorney employment contract filed with the Commission","Commission approval of any fee over $200"],"citation":"Miss. Code Ann. §71-3-63; MWCC Procedural Rule 2.12"},{"id":"wc-mo","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MO","status":"P","text":"The statute says all lawyer fees in workers' compensation cases are regulated by the division or commission and limited to charges that are fair and reasonable; it sets no percent.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"RSMo §287.260 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes)","url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=287.260","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"All attorney's fees for services in connection with this chapter shall be subject to regulation by the division or the commission and shall be limited"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"We also searched the Division's rules (8 CSR 50-2) and found no numeric fee cap; settlement forms must state the attorney's fee. Any customary percentage in Missouri practice is not set by statute or rule we read.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Missouri","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"compensation","approval":"agency","formalities":["fees subject to regulation by the division or commission"],"citation":"RSMo §287.260.1"},{"id":"wc-mt","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MT","status":"P","text":"The department's fee form caps contingent fees at 20% of the extra compensation won in cases settled without a judge's order, and 25% in cases that go to hearing; the statute lets the department regulate fees.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"MCA 39-71-613(1)-(2) (Montana Legislature)","url":"https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0390/chapter_0710/part_0060/section_0130/0390-0710-0060-0130.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The department may regulate the amount of the attorney fees in any workers' compensation case."},{"label":"Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Attorney Retainer Agreement form","url":"https://erd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/work-comp-claims/Attorney-Retainer-Agree.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"For cases that go to a hearing before the worker’s compensation judge or the Supreme Court, twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of additional compensation"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The 20%/25% schedule comes from the department's retainer form, which follows ARM 24.29.3802; rules.mt.gov did not return the rule text to our script, so the rule itself was not read. The form also caps hourly arrangements at $100 an hour and at the same percentages, and allows a variance application.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Montana","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"additional compensation the claimant receives due to the attorney's efforts","approval":"agency","formalities":["attorney retainer agreement filed with the department on its form"],"citation":"MCA 39-71-613; ARM 24.29.3802"},{"id":"wc-ne","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NE","status":"P","text":"The statute says no fee agreement in a workers' compensation case is valid or binding unless a judge of the Workers' Compensation Court approves it in writing; it sets no percent.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-108 (Nebraska Legislature)","url":"https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=48-108","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"unless the same be approved in writing by a judge of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"We found no numeric cap in the statute. §48-125 (not quoted) separately lets the court award a reasonable fee against an employer that delays payment. The Workers' Compensation Court is a court, not an agency; 'agency' here follows our coding for workers' compensation tribunals.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Nebraska","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"damages or compensation","approval":"agency","formalities":["written approval by a judge of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court"],"citation":"Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-108"},{"id":"wc-nv","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NV","status":"D","text":"We found no cap on what a private lawyer may charge an injured worker in Nevada's workers' compensation statutes or regulations, so the general 'reasonable fee' rule applies; the state also funds a free Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers.","value":"reasonableness-only","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"NRS 616A.435 (Nevada Legislature)","url":"https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-616A.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The Office of the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers is hereby created within the Department of Business and Industry."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"We searched the full text of NRS 616A, 616B, 616C, 616D and 617 and NAC 616C for attorney-fee provisions and found none limiting a claimant's private lawyer. A 2001 bill (SB 154) proposing a 10% cap appears in the Legislature's archive but we found no enacted section. Absence of a cap is our reading, not a statement by the state; Rule 1.5 reasonableness applies.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Nevada","capType":"reasonableness-only","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"NRS chapters 616A-616D, 617; NAC 616C (searched)"},{"id":"wc-nh","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NH","status":"P","text":"The statute says no lawyer may charge a claimant for department-level work unless the commissioner approves the fee, and the department's rule sets it at 20% of retroactive benefits or of a permanent impairment award.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"RSA 281-A:44, VI (New Hampshire General Court)","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXIII/281-A/281-A-44.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"No attorney representing a claimant shall contract for, charge for, or collect a fee for legal service rendered to the claimant at the department level"},{"label":"N.H. Admin. R. Lab 208.01(a)(1)","url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/lab200.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the attorney representing the claimant shall be entitled to 20% of the retroactive indemnity benefits ordered"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Lab 208.01 applies when the claimant prevails at a department hearing; fees on appeal to the board or Supreme Court are set by those bodies under RSA 281-A:44, I.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"New Hampshire","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"retroactive indemnity benefits ordered, or the permanent impairment award","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee approval by the commissioner at the department level"],"citation":"RSA 281-A:44, VI; N.H. Admin. R. Lab 208.01"},{"id":"wc-nj","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NJ","status":"P","text":"The statute, as amended in August 2024, says a judge of compensation may allow a reasonable attorney fee of no more than 25% of the judgment, up from 20%.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2024-08-22","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"P.L.2024, c.55 (S2822), approved August 22, 2024 (New Jersey Legislature)","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/AL24/55_.HTM","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"costs of witness fees and a reasonable attorney fee, not exceeding [ 20% ] 25 percent of the judgment"},{"label":"P.L.2024, c.55, section 2","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/AL24/55_.HTM","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all claims pending on or after the date of enactment."},{"label":"N.J.S.A. 34:15-64(d) as printed in P.L.2024, c.55","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/AL24/55_.HTM","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall be first approved by the judge of compensation before payment"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Where compensation was offered or paid in good faith within 26 weeks, the fee is based on the amount awarded above that offer (34:15-64(c)).","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"New Jersey","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the judgment","approval":"agency","formalities":["written agreement","fee approved by the judge of compensation before payment"],"citation":"N.J.S.A. 34:15-64 (as amended by P.L.2024, c.55)"},{"id":"wc-nm","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NM","status":"P","text":"The statute says a worker's lawyer fees for one injury claim may not exceed $30,000 in total, and a workers' compensation judge sets the fee.","value":30000,"unit":"USD","effectiveFrom":"2025-06-20","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"NMSA 1978 § 52-1-54(I) (NM Compilation Commission, Chapter 52)","url":"https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/4394/1/document.do","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) in calendar year 2025. Beginning January 1, 2027, the maximum allowable attorney fees shall be thirty-two thousand dollars"},{"label":"NMSA 1978 § 52-1-54(J), fee sharing","url":"https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/4394/1/document.do","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the payment of a claimant's attorney fees determined under this section shall be shared equally by the worker and the employer"},{"label":"NM Workers' Compensation Administration, Legal Resources (2026 rule amendment summary)","url":"https://www.workerscomp.nm.gov/legal-resources/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"especially when fees are contested or meet or exceed the $30,000 attorney fee cap"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Laws 2025, ch. 18 (effective June 20, 2025) raised the cap. It steps up to $32,000 on January 1, 2027 and $34,000 on January 1, 2029. A judge may add up to $5,000 for bad faith. Fees are normally split 50/50 between worker and employer, subject to offer-of-judgment shifts in Subsection F. Many secondary sources still give the old $22,500 cap. The 2025 text says 'in calendar year 2025' and next names 2027; we read it as $30,000 until the 2027 step.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"New Mexico","capType":"dollar","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":30000,"scale":[],"base":"all attorney fees for a single accidental injury claim, cumulative across all proceedings","approval":"judge","formalities":["fee fixed by the workers' compensation judge","no fee paid until the claim is settled or adjudged"],"citation":"NMSA 1978, § 52-1-54"},{"id":"wc-ny","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NY","status":"P","text":"The Board's own glossary says a claimant's lawyer fee must be approved by the Workers' Compensation Board under Section 24 of the law.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"NY Workers' Compensation Board glossary, 'Attorney Fees (Claimant's)'","url":"https://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/TheBoard/glossary.jsp","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Fees approved by the Board for claimant attorneys in workers' compensation cases. Under Section 24 of the Workers' Compensation Law, no claims for services"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The statute text on nysenate.gov returned an access block (403) and the fee-guideline regulation (12 NYCRR 300.17) is published only on Westlaw, which we did not read. So we record only that the Board must approve the fee; any percentage guideline in the regulation is unknown here.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"New York","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the compensation awarded (fee becomes a lien on the award)","approval":"agency","formalities":["Board approval of every fee"],"citation":"N.Y. Workers' Comp. Law § 24; 12 NYCRR 300.17"},{"id":"wc-nc","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NC","status":"P","text":"The statute says every lawyer fee in a workers' compensation case must be approved by the Industrial Commission, which judges whether it is reasonable.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-90(a)","url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_97/GS_97-90.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Fees for attorneys and charges of health care providers for medical compensation under this Article shall be subject to the approval of the Commission"},{"label":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-90(c)","url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_97/GS_97-90.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"he shall file a copy or memorandum thereof with the hearing officer or Commission prior to the conclusion of the hearing"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No percentage is written into the statute. The Commission tests the fee against listed factors (time, amount involved, results, customary fee) and must give findings. Taking an unapproved fee is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any customary percentage the Commission applies in practice was not read from a primary source.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"North Carolina","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the compensation awarded","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee agreement filed with the Commission","Commission approval"],"citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-90"},{"id":"wc-nd","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"ND","status":"P","text":"The statute says a worker's lawyer fee may not exceed 20% of the amount awarded, and the state fund's rule sets dollar maximums by stage, up to $14,595.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2026-01-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"N.D.C.C. § 65-02-08(3)(a)","url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t65c02.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"an attorney's fee may not exceed twenty percent of the amount awarded, subject to a maximum fee set by administrative rule"},{"label":"N.D. Admin. Code § 92-01-02-11.1(3)","url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/92-01-02.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"is an amount equal to twenty percent of the additional amount awarded except for an order litigating the initial determination of compensability"},{"label":"N.D. Admin. Code § 92-01-02-11.1(3)(f)","url":"https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/92-01-02.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Fourteen thousand five hundred ninety-five dollars, plus reasonable costs incurred, if the employee prevails after hearing by the supreme court"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"North Dakota is a state-fund system: WSI pays the worker's lawyer at $205 an hour, capped at 20% of the extra amount won and at a stage maximum ($4,704 if settled before hearing, $7,455 at hearing, $8,295 to $11,078 in district court, $13,283 to $14,595 in the supreme court; $2,205 for binding dispute resolution). Disputes over the initial decision on compensability are not subject to the 20% limit. Rule history shows the latest amendment effective January 1, 2026.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"North Dakota","capType":"lesser-of","percent":20,"percentKind":"fee-award","dollarCap":14595,"scale":[],"base":"the additional amount awarded (fees are paid by Workforce Safety and Insurance, not taken from the worker's award)","approval":"agency","formalities":["certificate of completion from the decision review office","itemized fee statement"],"citation":"N.D.C.C. § 65-02-08; N.D. Admin. Code § 92-01-02-11.1"},{"id":"wc-oh","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"OH","status":"D","text":"We found no percentage cap: Ohio's rule says fees must be reasonable, judged on Rule 1.5-style factors, and the Industrial Commission sets the fee if there is a dispute.","value":"reasonableness-only","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Ohio Rev. Code § 4123.06","url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.06","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The industrial commission shall adopt rules concerning the payment of attorney's fees and shall protect parties against unfair fees"},{"label":"Ohio Adm. Code 4121-3-24(A)","url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-4121-3","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The commission may inquire into the amounts of fees charged by attorneys, agents or representatives of the parties for services in matters before the commission"},{"label":"Ohio Rev. Code § 4123.512(F)","url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4123.512","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The attorney's fee shall not exceed five thousand dollars"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Fees are not approved case by case; the Commission steps in when a party or representative asks it to resolve a fee dispute (within one year). Separately, when a worker wins a court appeal, the employer or Commission pays a court-fixed fee of up to $5,000 under § 4123.512(F); that is a fee-shifting cap, not a cap on the worker's own agreement. Lump-sum advances for fees are limited to an amount the Commission sets periodically (4121-3-10), which we did not find published.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Ohio","capType":"reasonableness-only","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the fee for services before the Industrial Commission","approval":"none","formalities":["written fee agreement filed if a fee dispute goes to the Commission"],"citation":"Ohio Rev. Code § 4123.06; Ohio Adm. Code 4121-3-24"},{"id":"wc-ok","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"OK","status":"P","text":"The statute says a worker's lawyer may take up to 10% of temporary disability benefits and 20% of permanent disability or death benefits won on a disputed claim.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2014-02-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"85A O.S. § 82(A)(1)(b) (Oklahoma Senate, Title 85A PDF)","url":"https://oksenate.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/os85A.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"may only recover attorney fees up to ten percent (10%) of any temporary total disability or temporary partial disability compensation"},{"label":"85A O.S. § 82(A)(1)(b), continued","url":"https://oksenate.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/os85A.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"twenty percent (20%) of any permanent partial disability, permanent total disability, or death compensation awarded to an injured employee"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No fee on uncontested claims or on medical benefits. If the worker rejected a written settlement offer, the fee is limited to 30% of the amount by which the award beat the offer. A change-of-physician fee is a flat $200. Our copy is the Oklahoma Senate's compiled Title 85A PDF posted in December 2019; OSCN's current text did not render for our script, so a later amendment can't be ruled out.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Oklahoma","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"temporary disability compensation (10%) or permanent disability or death compensation (20%) awarded on a controverted claim","approval":"agency","formalities":["Commission review of fees"],"citation":"85A Okla. Stat. § 82"},{"id":"wc-or","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"OR","status":"P","text":"The Board's rules say a judge approves a fee of 25% of the extra permanent disability won, capped at $20,000 for permanent total disability, and up to 25% of a settlement.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"OAR 438-015-0040(1) (Workers' Compensation Board rules, revised 10/1/26)","url":"https://www.oregon.gov/wcb/Documents/wcbrule/438-rules.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the Administrative Law Judge shall approve a fee of 25 percent of the increased compensation, to be paid out of the increased compensation"},{"label":"OAR 438-015-0040(2)","url":"https://www.oregon.gov/wcb/Documents/wcbrule/438-rules.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"a fee of 25 percent of the increased compensation, but not more than $20,000, to be paid out of the award for permanent total disability"},{"label":"OAR 438-015-0050(1)","url":"https://www.oregon.gov/wcb/Documents/wcbrule/438-rules.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"in an amount up to 25 percent of the settlement proceeds. Under extraordinary circumstances, a fee may be authorized in excess of this calculation"},{"label":"ORS 656.388(1)","url":"https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors656.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall be valid unless approved by the Administrative Law Judge or board"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"These are the out-of-compensation fees paid from the worker's award. Oregon also has separate insurer-paid ('assessed') fees with their own caps adjusted every July 1 (for example $6,555 under ORS 656.262(11)(a) for orders from July 1, 2026). Extraordinary circumstances can justify a higher settlement fee.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Oregon","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the increased compensation (permanent disability) or the settlement proceeds","approval":"agency","formalities":["approval by the Administrative Law Judge or Board"],"citation":"ORS 656.388; OAR 438-015-0040, -0050, -0052"},{"id":"wc-pa","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"PA","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer fee in a workers' compensation case may not exceed 20% of the award or settlement, and the workers' compensation judge must approve it.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2006-11-09","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Workers' Compensation Act § 442, 1915 Act 338 (PA General Assembly PDF)","url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?txtType=PDF&SessYr=1915&ActNum=0338.&SessInd=0","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the workers' compensation judge or board as the case may be, providing the counsel fees do not exceed twenty per centum of the amount awarded"},{"label":"Workers' Compensation Act § 442, settlements","url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?txtType=PDF&SessYr=1915&ActNum=0338.&SessInd=0","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"In the case of compromise and release settlement agreements, no counsel fees shall exceed twenty per centum of the workers' compensation settlement amount"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Confirms the 20% general cap from the statute itself. Where the lawyer wins a result but no immediate award (for example defeating a termination), the judge allows a reasonable agreed fee without regard to the percentage. Section 442 was last amended November 9, 2006 (P.L.1362, No.147). Workers' compensation judges are agency judges in the Department of Labor and Industry; we coded approval as 'judge' because the statute names the judge.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Pennsylvania","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount awarded, or the compromise and release settlement amount","approval":"judge","formalities":["approval by the workers' compensation judge or Appeal Board"],"citation":"77 P.S. § 998 (Workers' Compensation Act § 442)"},{"id":"wc-ri","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"RI","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer fee on a lump-sum settlement is fixed by the Workers' Compensation Court and may not exceed 20%; on other petitions the employer pays the fee.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-25(d)","url":"http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-33/28-33-25.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Attorney’s fees shall be fixed by the court, but in no event shall any attorney’s fee for representing an employee"},{"label":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-25(d), continued","url":"http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-33/28-33-25.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"exceed a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the lump sum or twenty percent (20%) of the structured-type periodic payment"},{"label":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-32","url":"http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-35/28-35-32.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"No employee’s attorney shall accept any other or additional fees for his services for the particular petition for which the fees are awarded"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Two tracks. Settlements: the court fixes the fee, capped at 20%. Successful employee petitions: counsel fees are awarded as costs against the employer, and the lawyer may not take any extra fee from the worker for that petition. The amount of employer-paid fees is set by the court; we did not read a fee schedule.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Rhode Island","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the lump sum or the present value of a structured settlement","approval":"judge","formalities":["fee fixed by the Workers' Compensation Court","settlement placed on the record in open session"],"citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-33-25(d), 28-35-32"},{"id":"wc-sc","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"SC","status":"P","text":"The Commission's rule says a contingent fee is reasonable at up to 33.3% of the compensation, and every fee must be approved by the Workers' Compensation Commission.","value":33.3,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"S.C. Code § 42-15-90(A)","url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t42c015.php","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Attorney fees, physician fees, and hospital charges for services under this title are subject to the approval of the commission"},{"label":"S.C. Code Regs. 67-1205(C)","url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/coderegs/Chapter%2067.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"An attorney may charge up to, but not more than, 33.3% of the total amount of compensation, except in the following situations"},{"label":"S.C. Code Regs. 67-1205(B)(2)","url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/coderegs/Chapter%2067.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The client agrees to the fee by signing a completed Form 61"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Special bases apply: if an impairment rating existed before the lawyer was hired, the 33.3% applies only to the increase; on temporary compensation the fee is limited to weeks already past due. Hourly or quantum meruit fees need a supporting memo in unusual cases.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"South Carolina","capType":"percent","percent":33.3,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the total amount of compensation","approval":"agency","formalities":["fee agreement fully explained, with the total dollar fee","client signs Form 61","Commission approval"],"citation":"S.C. Code § 42-15-90; S.C. Code Regs. 67-1205"},{"id":"wc-sd","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"SD","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer fee may not exceed 25% of a settled disputed amount, 30% after a Department hearing or circuit court appeal, and 35% after a successful Supreme Court appeal.","value":35,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2011-04-12","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"SDCL § 62-7-36","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/62-7-36.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Attorneys' fees may not exceed the percentage of the amount of compensation benefits secured as a result of the attorney's involvement as follows"},{"label":"SDCL § 62-7-36(1)-(3)","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/62-7-36.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Twenty-five percent of the disputed amount arrived at by settlement of the parties"},{"label":"SDCL § 62-7-36(3)","url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/62-7-36.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Thirty-five percent of the disputed amount awarded if an appeal is successful to the Supreme Court"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The cap steps up by stage, not by amount: 25% (settlement), 30% (Department of Labor and Regulation award or circuit court appeal), 35% (successful Supreme Court appeal). The percent field holds the top tier. Fees are subject to Department approval.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"South Dakota","capType":"percent","percent":35,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the disputed amount of compensation benefits secured","approval":"agency","formalities":["Department of Labor and Regulation approval"],"citation":"SDCL § 62-7-36"},{"id":"wc-tn","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"TN","status":"P","text":"The statute says a worker's lawyer fee may not exceed 20% of the recovery or award and must be approved by a workers' compensation judge.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2014-07-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"2013 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 289, § 61, amending § 50-6-226(a)(1) (TN Secretary of State)","url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0289.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"provided, that no attorney's fees to be charged employees shall be in excess of twenty percent (20%) of the amount of the recovery or award"},{"label":"2013 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 289, § 61","url":"https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0289.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"shall deem the attorney's fee to be reasonable if the fee does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the award to the injured worker"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Read from the 2013 Workers' Compensation Reform Act as enacted (Public Chapter 289), which rewrote § 50-6-226(a)(1) for injuries on or after July 1, 2014. The current codified text sits on a LexisNexis site our script cannot read, so later amendments are not ruled out. For permanent total cases under § 50-6-207(4), 20% of the first 450 weeks is deemed reasonable.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Tennessee","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount of the recovery or award","approval":"judge","formalities":["approval by the workers' compensation judge"],"citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-226(a)(1)"},{"id":"wc-tx","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"TX","status":"P","text":"The statute says a worker's lawyer fee, including a contingency fee, must be approved by the Division or court and may not exceed 25% of the worker's recovery.","value":25,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2001-06-17","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Tex. Lab. Code § 408.221(a) (Texas Legislative Council)","url":"https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/LA/htm/LA.408.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"An attorney's fee, including a contingency fee, for representing a claimant before the division or court under this subtitle must be approved"},{"label":"Tex. Lab. Code § 408.221(i)","url":"https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/LA/htm/LA.408.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"an attorney's fee may not exceed 25 percent of the claimant's recovery"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The fee is based on the lawyer's time and expenses, within the 25% ceiling, and the commissioner sets maximum-fee guidelines by rule (28 TAC ch. 152, not read here). Carrier-paid fees when the carrier appeals and loses are outside the 25% limit. Read from the Texas Legislative Council's statute host (tcss.legis.texas.gov) because statutes.capitol.texas.gov renders by script.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Texas","capType":"percent","percent":25,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the claimant's recovery","approval":"agency","formalities":["approval by the DWC commissioner or court","fee paid by separate draft"],"citation":"Tex. Lab. Code § 408.221"},{"id":"wc-ut","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"UT","status":"U","text":"Utah's general fee cap is set by a Labor Commission rule (R602-2-4) that we could not read, so we list it as unknown.","value":"unknown","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Utah Code § 34A-1-309(3) (add-on fee for denied medical claims)","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title34A/Chapter1/C34A-1-S309_2023050320230503.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the lesser of 25% of the medical expenses the commission awards to the claimant or $25,000, for a case that is resolved"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The Utah Administrative Code site (adminrules.utah.gov) renders only by script and returned 404 to our fetcher, so the Commission's attorney-fee schedule in R602-2-4 was not read. What we did read: the statutory 'add-on fee' for denied medical claims, paid by the carrier on top of the worker's own fee, capped at the lesser of 25%/$25,000 (Commission), 30%/$30,000 (Court of Appeals) or 35%/$35,000 (Supreme Court), as amended in 2023.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Utah","capType":"unknown","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"unknown","approval":"agency","formalities":[],"citation":"Utah Code § 34A-1-309; Utah Admin. Code R602-2-4"},{"id":"wc-vt","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"VT","status":"P","text":"The Department's rule says a fee award on a contingency basis may not exceed 20% of the benefits awarded, or $200 an hour if hourly, subject to the Commissioner.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2026-07-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules, Rule 20.1320 (effective Jan. 1, 2025, amended July 1, 2026)","url":"https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/documents/WC/WCRules1-27ADOPTED-CLEANTEXT_Effective1July2026.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"If based on a contingent fee, the award shall not exceed 20 percent of the compensation or benefits awarded"},{"label":"Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules, Rule 20.1330","url":"https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/documents/WC/WCRules1-27ADOPTED-CLEANTEXT_Effective1July2026.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The above limitations apply only to an award of fees by the Commissioner, and shall not prohibit an attorney and client from agreeing"},{"label":"21 V.S.A. § 678(b)(2)","url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/21/009/00678","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The Commissioner may allow a claimant to recover reasonable attorney’s fees when the claimant prevails"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Vermont is mainly a fee-award state: the Commissioner may award a prevailing worker reasonable fees (hourly up to $200 for attorneys and $75 for paralegals, indexed each July 1 by CPI capped at 5%, or contingent up to 20%). The rule says the limits do not bar a different agreement between lawyer and client, but a lien against the worker's compensation must be calculated within the same limits and the carrier reserves 20% for it. The rates shown are the base figures in the rule text; the indexed current rates were not read.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Vermont","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"fee-award","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the compensation or benefits awarded","approval":"agency","formalities":["itemized statement of hours","written fee agreement for a lien","request within 30 days of decision"],"citation":"21 V.S.A. § 678; Vt. Workers' Comp. Rule 20.1300"},{"id":"wc-va","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"VA","status":"P","text":"The statute says lawyer fees in workers' compensation cases are subject to the approval and award of the Workers' Compensation Commission.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Va. Code § 65.2-714(A)","url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title65.2/chapter7/section65.2-714/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"whether employed by employer, employee, or insurance carrier under this title, shall be subject to the approval and award of the Commission"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No percentage is in the statute. The Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over fee disputes and can order an excessive fee repaid. Any Commission fee guideline was not read from a primary source.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Virginia","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the compensation awarded","approval":"agency","formalities":["Commission approval"],"citation":"Va. Code § 65.2-714"},{"id":"wc-wa","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"WA","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer may not charge more than a reasonable fee of up to 30% of the increase in the award for work before the Department of Labor and Industries.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"RCW 51.52.120(1)","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=51.52.120","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"any fee in excess of a reasonable fee, of not more than thirty percent of the increase in the award secured by the attorney's services"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The 30% limit applies to services before the Department; the director fixes the fee on written application. Fees for Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals work are fixed by the Board, and any fee can be reviewed by superior court. Claim resolution settlement agreements are excluded from the 30% limit.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Washington","capType":"percent","percent":30,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the increase in the award secured by the attorney's services","approval":"agency","formalities":["director or Board fixes the fee on written application"],"citation":"RCW 51.52.120"},{"id":"wc-wv","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"WV","status":"P","text":"The statute says a worker's lawyer fee may not exceed 20% of the award, counting no more than 208 weeks of benefits.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2022-07-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"W. Va. Code § 23-5-16a(a)","url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/23-5-16a/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"An attorney’s fee in excess of 20 percent of any award granted may not be charged or received by an attorney"},{"label":"W. Va. Code § 23-5-16a(a)","url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/23-5-16a/","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"be in excess of 20 percent of the benefits, to be paid during a period of 208 weeks"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"On a final settlement the fee may not exceed 20% of the medical and indemnity benefits, again limited to the 208-week figure. For winning back denied medical benefits, the carrier pays hourly fees up to $125 an hour, $500 per issue and $2,500 per claim. § 23-5-16a took effect July 1, 2022 and replaced § 23-5-16. The statute sets a hard cap without a stated approval step, so approval is coded 'none'.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"West Virginia","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the award, limited to benefits payable over 208 weeks","approval":"none","formalities":["fee petition within 30 days for denied-medical fee awards"],"citation":"W. Va. Code § 23-5-16a"},{"id":"wc-wi","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"WI","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer fee may not exceed 20% of the amount won or settled, and only 10% up to $250 when liability and the amount are not disputed.","value":20,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Wis. Stat. § 102.26(2)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/102/26","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"exceeds 20 percent of the amount at which the claim is compromised or of the amount awarded, adjudged, or collected"},{"label":"Wis. Stat. § 102.26(2), admitted-liability cases","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/102/26","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the fee charged may not exceed 10 percent, but not to exceed $250, of the amount at which the claim is compromised"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Two caps: 20% for disputed claims, and 10% with a $250 maximum when liability is admitted, the amount is not disputed and no hearing is needed. Higher fees need prior Department authorization. An overcharge can draw a forfeiture of double the amount. The $250 sub-cap for admitted claims is not stored in dollarCap, so the 20% ceiling is the row's value.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Wisconsin","capType":"percent","percent":20,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount at which the claim is compromised, awarded, adjudged or collected","approval":"agency","formalities":["Department authorization for any fee above the cap"],"citation":"Wis. Stat. § 102.26(2)"},{"id":"wc-wy","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"WY","status":"P","text":"The statute says a hearing examiner may appoint and pay a worker's lawyer an hourly fee set by the state, never more than the benefits at issue.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Wyo. Stat. § 27-14-602(d) (Wyoming Legislature, Title 27 PDF)","url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title27.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Upon request, the hearing examiner may appoint an attorney to represent the employee or claimants and may allow the appointed attorney a reasonable fee"},{"label":"Wyo. Stat. § 27-14-602(d)","url":"https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title27.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Attorney fees allowed shall be at an hourly rate established by the director of the office of administrative hearings"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Wyoming is a state-fund system. Fees are hourly, ordered by the hearing examiner, and paid from the worker's compensation account, the award or the employer; an award of fees cannot exceed the benefits at issue. The current hourly rate set by the Office of Administrative Hearings was not read.","program":"workers-comp","jurisdictionName":"Wyoming","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"hours of service at a rate set by the Office of Administrative Hearings","approval":"agency","formalities":["verified itemization of services","hearing examiner order"],"citation":"Wyo. Stat. § 27-14-602(d)"},{"id":"mm-ca","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"CA","status":"P","text":"The statute says a contingency fee in a medical-malpractice case may not exceed 25% of a settlement reached before a lawsuit or arbitration demand is filed, or 33% after.","value":33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2023-01-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 6146(a)(1) (California Legislative Information)","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=6146.","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(1) Twenty-five percent of the dollar amount recovered if the recovery is pursuant to settlement"},{"label":"Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 6146(a)(2)","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=6146.","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(2) Thirty-three percent of the dollar amount recovered if the recovery is pursuant to settlement"},{"label":"Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 6146, history note","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=6146.","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 17, Sec. 2. (AB 35) Effective January 1, 2023.)"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Tiers are by stage, not by amount. If the case is tried or arbitrated, the lawyer may ask the court or arbitrator for a higher fee for good cause (6146(a)(3)). Replaced the old MICRA dollar-tier scale (40/33⅓/25/15%) by AB 35. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov blocks scripted requests, so the page was read once in a normal browser and quotes were copied from the rendered text. California row is reference data only (no headline use).","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"California","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"stage":"settlement before a civil complaint or arbitration demand is filed","percent":25},{"stage":"settlement, arbitration or judgment after filing","percent":33}],"base":"the dollar amount recovered (net of disbursements and costs)","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 6146"},{"id":"mm-de","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"DE","status":"P","text":"The statute says a claimant's lawyer in a medical-negligence case may not take more than 35% of the first $100,000, 25% of the next $100,000 and 10% of the rest.","value":35,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"18 Del. C. 6865(a) (Delaware Code Online)","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c068/sc07/index.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The amount of the claimant’s attorneys’ fees may not exceed the amounts in the following schedule: (1) 35% of the first $100,000 of damages;"},{"label":"18 Del. C. 6865(a)(2)-(3)","url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c068/sc07/index.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(2) 25% of the next $100,000 of damages; (3) 10% of the balance of any awarded damages."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The client may instead choose a per-diem fee in writing (6865(b)). Source note: 60 Del. Laws c. 373.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Delaware","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":35,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":100000,"percent":35},{"from":100000,"to":200000,"percent":25},{"from":200000,"to":null,"percent":10}],"base":"damages","approval":"none","formalities":["per-diem election must be in writing at time of employment"],"citation":"18 Del. C. 6865"},{"id":"mm-fl","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"FL","status":"P","text":"Florida's Constitution says a medical-liability claimant keeps at least 70% of the first $250,000 and 90% of anything above it, which works out to a fee ceiling of 30% then 10%.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2004-11-03","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Florida Constitution, Art. I, s. 26 (Florida Senate)","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"the claimant is entitled to receive no less than 70% of the first $250,000.00 in all damages received by the claimant, exclusive of reasonable and"},{"label":"Florida Constitution, Art. I, s. 26","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The claimant is entitled to 90% of all damages in excess of $250,000.00, exclusive of reasonable and customary costs and regardless of the number of"},{"label":"Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-1.5(f)(4)(B)(iii)","url":"https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2026/10/2027_04-OCT-Chapter-4-RRTFB-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"must provide the language of article I, section 26 of the Florida Constitution to the client in writing"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The constitution sets the client's minimum share; the percentages here are the implied fee ceiling (100% minus the client's share). The Bar rule lets the client waive it with specific written and oral steps. effectiveFrom is the day after the November 2, 2004 vote ('shall take effect on the day following approval by the voters').","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Florida","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":30,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":250000,"percent":30},{"from":250000,"to":null,"percent":10}],"base":"all damages received, exclusive of reasonable and customary costs","approval":"none","formalities":["written notice of art. I s. 26","oral explanation","statement of client's rights","written contract"],"citation":"Fla. Const. art. I, s. 26; R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-1.5(f)(4)(B)(iii)"},{"id":"mm-il","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"IL","status":"P","text":"The statute says the total contingency fee in a medical-malpractice case may not exceed 33 1/3% of all sums recovered.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2013-01-18","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"735 ILCS 5/2-1114(a) (Illinois General Assembly)","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1114","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"In all medical malpractice actions the total contingent fee for plaintiff's attorney or attorneys shall not exceed 33 1/3% of all sums recovered."},{"label":"735 ILCS 5/2-1114, source note","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1114","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(Source: P.A. 97-1145, eff. 1-18-13.)"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The current text is a flat 33 1/3% set by P.A. 97-1145 (effective 2013-01-18). Earlier versions used a sliding scale and a court-approval route; subsection (c) is now blank. We did not trace the case history of earlier versions.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Illinois","capType":"percent","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"all sums recovered","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"735 ILCS 5/2-1114"},{"id":"mm-in","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"IN","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer's fee on a recovery from Indiana's Patient's Compensation Fund may not exceed 32% for malpractice after June 30, 2017 (15% before).","value":32,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":"2017-07-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Ind. Code 34-18-18-1 (Indiana General Assembly, 2025 Code, Title 34 PDF)","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2025/Title_34.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(2) after June 30, 2017, thirty-two percent (32%) of any recovery under IC 34-18-14-3."},{"label":"Ind. Code 34-18-18-1(1)","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2025/Title_34.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(1) before July 1, 2017, fifteen percent (15%) of any recovery from the fund;"},{"label":"Ind. Code 34-18-18-2","url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2025/Title_34.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"A patient has the right to elect to pay for the attorney's services on a mutually satisfactory per diem basis."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"The cap reaches only the fund portion of the recovery; the part paid by the provider or its insurer is not covered by this section. Many secondary summaries still say 15%, which is the pre-July 2017 figure. Amended by P.L.182-2016. Read from the 2025 edition of the Code.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Indiana","capType":"percent","percent":32,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the recovery from the Patient's Compensation Fund (not the provider's own share)","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"Ind. Code 34-18-18-1"},{"id":"mm-me","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"ME","status":"P","text":"The statute says a contingency fee in a professional-negligence case may not exceed 33⅓% of the first $100,000, 25% of the next $100,000 and 20% above $200,000.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"24 M.R.S. 2961(1) (Maine Legislature)","url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24/title24sec2961.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"A. Thirty-three and one-third percent of the first $100,000 of the sum recovered;"},{"label":"24 M.R.S. 2961(1)(C)","url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24/title24sec2961.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"C. Twenty percent of any amount over $200,000 of the sum recovered."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"A prevailing lawyer may petition the court for a higher fee, but only if the client was told about this section orally and in writing before signing. Page data extracted 10/05/2026.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Maine","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":100000,"percent":33.33},{"from":100000,"to":200000,"percent":25},{"from":200000,"to":null,"percent":20}],"base":"the sum recovered, exclusive of litigation expenses","approval":"judge","formalities":["oral and written notice of 2961 before signing (needed to petition for a higher fee)"],"citation":"24 M.R.S. 2961"},{"id":"mm-ma","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MA","status":"P","text":"The statute says a contingency fee in a medical-malpractice case may not exceed 40% of the first $150,000, falling to 25% above $500,000.","value":40,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Mass. G.L. c. 231, s. 60I (Massachusetts Legislature)","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter231/Section60I","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(1) Forty per cent of the first one hundred and fifty thousand dollars recovered; (2) Thirty-three and one-third per cent of the next one hundred"},{"label":"Mass. G.L. c. 231, s. 60I","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter231/Section60I","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(3) Thirty per cent of the next two hundred thousand dollars recovered; (4) Twenty-five per cent of any amount by which the recovery exceeds five"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"A second limit also applies: if the client's net would not cover unpaid past and future medical expenses, the fee must be cut to 20% or to a level that covers them. Courts may set fees below the limits.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Massachusetts","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":40,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":150000,"percent":40},{"from":150000,"to":300000,"percent":33.33},{"from":300000,"to":500000,"percent":30},{"from":500000,"to":null,"percent":25}],"base":"the amount recovered","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"Mass. G.L. c. 231, s. 60I"},{"id":"mm-ny","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NY","status":"P","text":"The statute says a contingency fee in a medical, dental or podiatric malpractice case may not exceed a scale that starts at 30% of the first $250,000 and falls to 10% above $1,250,000.","value":30,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"N.Y. Judiciary Law 474-a(2) (NY Senate Open Legislation)","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/JUD/474-A","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"a contingent fee in a medical, dental or podiatric malpractice action shall not exceed the amount of compensation provided for in the following schedule"},{"label":"N.Y. Judiciary Law 474-a(2), first tier","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/JUD/474-A","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"30 percent of the first $250,000 of the sum recovered;"},{"label":"N.Y. Judiciary Law 474-a(2), last tier","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/JUD/474-A","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"10 percent of any amount over $1,250,000 of the sum recovered."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"A judge may allow a higher fee in extraordinary circumstances on application with notice (474-a(4)). Infant claims stay under Jud. Law 474. NY Senate site's current revision is dated 2014-09-22; it blocks scripted requests, so it was read in a normal browser. The separate personal-injury fee schedules in the Appellate Division rules (22 NYCRR 603.7, 691.20, 806.13, 1022.31) were not read: nycourts.gov returned access blocks.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"New York","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":30,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":250000,"percent":30},{"from":250000,"to":500000,"percent":25},{"from":500000,"to":1000000,"percent":20},{"from":1000000,"to":1250000,"percent":15},{"from":1250000,"to":null,"percent":10}],"base":"the net sum recovered after expenses and disbursements","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"N.Y. Judiciary Law 474-a"},{"id":"mm-tn","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"TN","status":"U","text":"We could not read Tennessee's official statute text, so this cap is unknown here.","value":"unknown","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Tennessee publishes its code only through a LexisNexis portal that our script cannot read, and we did not find the section on a state-run host. Secondary sources describe a one-third cap; not used. Re-try in a browser session.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Tennessee","capType":"unknown","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":null,"approval":"unknown","formalities":[],"citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. 29-26-120"},{"id":"mm-ut","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"UT","status":"P","text":"The statute says a contingency fee in a malpractice case against a health-care provider may not exceed 33-1/3% of the amount recovered.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Utah Code 78B-3-411(1) (Utah Legislature)","url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78B/Chapter3/C78B-3-S411_1800010118000101.html","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"caused by the negligence of another which exceeds 33-1/3% of the amount recovered."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Applies regardless of settlement, arbitration, judgment or appeal (78B-3-411(2)).","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Utah","capType":"percent","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the amount recovered","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"Utah Code 78B-3-411"},{"id":"mm-wi","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"WI","status":"P","text":"The statute says a medical-malpractice contingency fee may not exceed 33 1/3% of the first $1 million (25% if liability is admitted early) and 20% above that.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Wis. Stat. 655.013(1m)(a) (Wisconsin Legislature)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/655/i/013","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , 33 1/3 percent of the first $1,000,000 recovered."},{"label":"Wis. Stat. 655.013(1m)(b)-(c)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/655/i/013","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Twenty-five percent of the first $1,000,000 recovered if liability is stipulated within 180 days after the date of filing of the original complaint"},{"label":"Wis. Stat. 655.013(1m)(c)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/655/i/013","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Twenty percent of any amount in excess of $1,000,000 recovered."},{"label":"Wis. Stat. 655.013(2)","url":"https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/655/i/013","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"An attorney shall offer to charge any client in a malpractice proceeding or action on a per diem or per hour basis."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"25% replaces 33 1/3% on the first $1,000,000 if liability is stipulated within 180 days of filing and at least 60 days before trial. A court may approve more on exceptional circumstances (1t). Applies to agreements entered on and after June 14, 1986.","program":"med-mal","jurisdictionName":"Wisconsin","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":1000000,"percent":33.33},{"from":1000000,"to":null,"percent":20}],"base":"the amount recovered, plus reasonable costs of prosecution","approval":"judge","formalities":["offer of hourly or per-diem fee at employment"],"citation":"Wis. Stat. 655.013"},{"id":"cg-ct","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"CT","status":"P","text":"The statute says a contingency fee in a personal-injury, wrongful-death or property-damage case may not exceed 33⅓% of the first $300,000, falling to 10% above $1.2 million, unless the client waives it in a complex case.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-251c(b) (Connecticut General Assembly)","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_901.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(1) Thirty-three and one-third per cent of the first three hundred thousand dollars;"},{"label":"Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-251c(b)(5)","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_901.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"(5) ten per cent of any amount which exceeds one million two hundred thousand dollars."},{"label":"Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-251c(c)","url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_901.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"a claimant may waive the percentage limitations of said subsection if the claim or civil action is so substantially complex, unique or different"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Applies to all personal-injury, wrongful-death and property-damage claims arising on or after October 1, 1987, including medical malpractice. The waiver has its own written steps in subsection (d), which we did not quote.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"Connecticut","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":300000,"percent":33.33},{"from":300000,"to":600000,"percent":25},{"from":600000,"to":900000,"percent":20},{"from":900000,"to":1200000,"percent":15},{"from":1200000,"to":null,"percent":10}],"base":"damages awarded and received, or the settlement amount received","approval":"none","formalities":["written contract","waiver procedure for complex cases (52-251c(c)-(d))"],"citation":"Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-251c"},{"id":"cg-fl","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"FL","status":"P","text":"The Bar rule says a personal-injury contingency fee above its schedule (33⅓% to 40% of the first $1 million, falling above that) is presumed clearly excessive unless a court approves it.","value":40,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-1.5(f)(4)(B)(i)","url":"https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2026/10/2027_04-OCT-Chapter-4-RRTFB-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Without prior court approval as specified below, any contingent fee that exceeds the following standards are presumed, unless rebutted, to be clearly excessive"},{"label":"Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-1.5(f)(4)(B)(i)b (after answer)","url":"https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2026/10/2027_04-OCT-Chapter-4-RRTFB-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"40% of any recovery up to $1"},{"label":"Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-1.5(f)(4)(A)(ii)","url":"https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2026/10/2027_04-OCT-Chapter-4-RRTFB-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"This contract may be cancelled by written notification to the lawyer at any time within 3 business days of the date the contract was signed"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Covers personal injury, wrongful death, property damage from torts and product liability. An additional 5% is allowed when an appeal or post-judgment action is needed. The client may petition a court to approve a higher fee. Read from the Bar's October 22, 2026 rules PDF; the PDF's column layout splits some tier lines, so only the contiguous phrases are quoted.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"Florida","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":40,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"stage":"before answer","from":0,"to":1000000,"percent":33.33},{"stage":"before answer","from":1000000,"to":2000000,"percent":30},{"stage":"before answer","from":2000000,"to":null,"percent":20},{"stage":"after answer through judgment","from":0,"to":1000000,"percent":40},{"stage":"after answer through judgment","from":1000000,"to":2000000,"percent":30},{"stage":"after answer through judgment","from":2000000,"to":null,"percent":20},{"stage":"liability admitted at answer","from":0,"to":1000000,"percent":33.33},{"stage":"liability admitted at answer","from":1000000,"to":2000000,"percent":20},{"stage":"liability admitted at answer","from":2000000,"to":null,"percent":15}],"base":"any recovery","approval":"judge","formalities":["written contract signed by client and lawyer","statement of client's rights signed by both","3-business-day cancellation clause","closing statement"],"citation":"R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-1.5(f)(4)"},{"id":"cg-hi","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"HI","status":"P","text":"The statute says in tort cases ending in a judgment, both sides' lawyer fees are limited to a reasonable amount approved by the court; in settlements either side may ask for approval.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Haw. Rev. Stat. 607-15.5 (Hawaii State Legislature)","url":"https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0607/HRS_0607-0015_0005.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"attorneys' fees for both the plaintiff and the defendant shall be limited to a reasonable amount as approved by the court having jurisdiction of the"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No percentage is set. Court approval is required for judgments and optional (on request) for settlements. Read from data.capitol.hawaii.gov; the www host returned 403.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"Hawaii","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the tort judgment or settlement","approval":"judge","formalities":[],"citation":"Haw. Rev. Stat. 607-15.5"},{"id":"cg-mi","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"MI","status":"P","text":"The court rule says the maximum contingency fee in a personal-injury, wrongful-death or no-fault benefits case is one-third of the amount recovered.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Michigan Court Rule 8.121(B) (Michigan Courts, Chapter 8)","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The maximum allowable fee for the claims and actions referred to in subrule (A) is one-third of the amount recovered."},{"label":"Michigan Court Rule 8.121(A)","url":"https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/rules-instructions-administrative-orders/michigan-court-rules/court-rules-book-ch-8-responsive-html5.zip/Court_Rules_Book_Ch_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8/Court_Rules_Chapter_8.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"In any claim or action for personal injury or wrongful death based upon the alleged conduct of another or for no-fault benefits"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"A higher fee is treated as a clearly excessive fee under MRPC 1.5(a). The formalities in subrules (D)-(F) were summarized from the rule page, not separately quoted.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"Michigan","capType":"percent","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the net sum recovered after disbursements","approval":"none","formalities":["written agreement with a copy to the client","advise client of other fee options"],"citation":"MCR 8.121"},{"id":"cg-nh","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NH","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer must first offer an hourly-value fee before a contingency agreement, and fees in cases settling or ending in judgment for $200,000 or more need court approval.","value":"approval-required","unit":"capType","effectiveFrom":"2003-01-01","effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"N.H. RSA 508:4-e(II) (NH General Court)","url":"https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LII/508/508-4-e.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"No attorney shall enter into such a contingent fee arrangement with his or her client without first advising the client of his or her right"},{"label":"N.H. RSA 508:4-e(III)","url":"https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LII/508/508-4-e.htm","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"All fees and costs for actions, resulting in settlement or judgment of $200,000 or more, shall be subject to approval by the court."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"No percentage cap; Rule 1.5 governs the agreement (508:4-e(I)). Last amended 2002, effective January 1, 2003.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"New Hampshire","capType":"approval-required","percent":null,"percentKind":null,"dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the settlement or judgment","approval":"judge","formalities":["offer of reasonable-value fee first","court approval at $200,000 or more"],"citation":"N.H. RSA 508:4-e"},{"id":"cg-nj","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"NJ","status":"P","text":"The court rule says a contingency fee in a tort case (including medical malpractice and product cases) may not exceed 33⅓% of the first $750,000, then 30%, 25% and 20% on each next $750,000; above $3 million the fee is set by the court.","value":33.33,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"N.J. Court Rule 1:21-7(c) (NJ Courts, Rules of Court)","url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/rules-of-court","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"an attorney shall not contract for, charge, or collect a contingent fee in excess of the following limits: 33⅓% on the first $750,000 recovered;"},{"label":"N.J. Court Rule 1:21-7(c), upper tiers","url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/rules-of-court","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"30% on the next $750,000 recovered; 25% on the next $750,000 recovered; 20% on the next $750,000;"},{"label":"N.J. Court Rule 1:21-7(b)","url":"https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/rules-of-court","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"An attorney shall not enter into a contingent fee arrangement without first having advised the client of the right"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Applies to tort claims (excluding statutory discrimination and employment claims) where the client is not a subrogee. Amounts above $3,000,000 need a fee application to the court (para. (f)); a lower limit (25%) applies to some settlements for minors or incapacitated clients. 'Closing statement' is from the rule's history note, not separately quoted. The rules page is a script-rendered app, so it was read in a normal browser. A 2024 official comment covers fee-shifting cases (njcourts.gov notice n240429a).","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"New Jersey","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":33.33,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"from":0,"to":750000,"percent":33.33},{"from":750000,"to":1500000,"percent":30},{"from":1500000,"to":2250000,"percent":25},{"from":2250000,"to":3000000,"percent":20},{"from":3000000,"to":null,"percent":null}],"base":"the net sum recovered","approval":"judge","formalities":["offer of hourly (reasonable-value) arrangement first","closing statement"],"citation":"N.J. Ct. R. 1:21-7(c)"},{"id":"cg-ok","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"OK","status":"P","text":"The statute says a lawyer may contract for up to 50% of the net amount of a judgment or settlement.","value":50,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Okla. Stat. tit. 5, s. 7 (Oklahoma State Courts Network)","url":"https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=64834","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the net amount of such judgment as may be recovered, or such compromise as may be made"}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"Applies to any cause of action, contract or tort. Last amended 1953. The bar's Rule 1.5 reasonableness standard still applies below the cap.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"Oklahoma","capType":"percent","percent":50,"percentKind":"ceiling","dollarCap":null,"scale":[],"base":"the net amount of the judgment or compromise","approval":"none","formalities":[],"citation":"5 O.S. 7"},{"id":"cg-wy","dataset":"fees","jurisdiction":"WY","status":"P","text":"Wyoming's court rules say a contingency fee is presumed reasonable up to 33⅓% if settled before or within 60 days of filing suit and 40% after, plus 30% on any amount over $1 million.","value":40,"unit":"percent","effectiveFrom":null,"effectiveTo":null,"sources":[{"label":"Wyoming Rules Governing Contingent Fees, Rule 4 (Wyoming Courts)","url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/01/RULES_GOVERNING_CONTINGENT_FEES_FR_MEMBERS_OF_THE_WYOMING_STATE_BAR-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Each contingent fee agreement shall be in writing in duplicate."},{"label":"Wyoming Rules Governing Contingent Fees, Rule 5(a)","url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/01/RULES_GOVERNING_CONTINGENT_FEES_FR_MEMBERS_OF_THE_WYOMING_STATE_BAR-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"Contingent fees which do not exceed the following schedule will be presumed to be reasonable and not excessive where the total recovery does not exceed"},{"label":"Wyoming Rules Governing Contingent Fees, Rule 5(c)","url":"https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/01/RULES_GOVERNING_CONTINGENT_FEES_FR_MEMBERS_OF_THE_WYOMING_STATE_BAR-1.pdf","kind":"primary","accessed":"2026-10-25","quote":"The provisions of this rule are not intended to abridge the freedom of the attorneys and clients to contract for different percentages."}],"lastChecked":"2026-10-25","note":"This is a presumption of reasonableness, not a hard cap: Rule 5(c) keeps freedom of contract, and either party may ask the Wyoming State Bar fee-dispute committee to review the fee within 60 days of final distribution.","program":"contingency-general","jurisdictionName":"Wyoming","capType":"sliding-scale","percent":40,"percentKind":"presumption","dollarCap":null,"scale":[{"stage":"settled before or within 60 days after suit","from":0,"to":1000000,"percent":33.33},{"stage":"settled later or judgment","from":0,"to":1000000,"percent":40},{"from":1000000,"to":null,"percent":30}],"base":"the recovery","approval":"none","formalities":["written agreement in duplicate signed by lawyer and client","copy kept 3 years","copy of the rules furnished and explained to the client","fee-sharing terms disclosed in writing"],"citation":"Rules Governing Contingent Fees for Members of the Wyoming State Bar, Rules 4-5"}]}