Tex. Gov't Code § 82.065 · Subchapter C. ATTORNEY CONDUCT
CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and client.
(b) Any contract for legal services is voidable by the client if it is procured as a result of conduct violating Section 38.12(a) or (b), Penal Code, or Rule 7.03 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, regarding barratry by attorneys or other persons.
(c) An attorney who was paid or owed fees or expenses under a contract that is voided under this section may recover fees and expenses based on a quantum meruit theory if the client does not prove that the attorney committed barratry or had actual knowledge, before undertaking the representation, that the contract was procured as a result of barratry by another person. To recover fees or expenses under this subsection, the attorney must have reported the misconduct as required by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, unless:
(1) another person has already reported the misconduct; or
(2) the attorney reasonably believed that reporting the misconduct would substantially prejudice the client's interests.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 866, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 94 (S.B. 1716), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 315 (H.B. 1711), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.82.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 fd807ca114f88622164775fcbbe0f0aae3e548ae96dae517256ea5d8f1c60b20
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
Cited by 1 provision
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Gov't Code § 82.065. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.