LEO: Contingent Fees for Collection of Child  LE Op. 667

 

Contingent Fees for Collection of Child Support Arrearages.

 

March 15, 1985

 

A contingent fee arrangement in collecting child support arrearages is

unethical unless the following factors are satisfied:

 

1. Children involved have achieved or will soon achieve the age of

maturity;

 

2. The attorney involved has objectively satisfied himself that the

contingent fee arrangement would not likely in any way undermine the non-

custodial parent's relationship with the minor child or children;

 

3. The prospective client is indigent and no other type of fee

arrangement is practical;

 

4. The fee arrangement is fair and reasonable under the circumstances. [

 LE Op. 189 and LE Op. 405, EC:2-22; cf. LE Op. 363 and LE Op.

423]

 

Committee Opinion March 15, 1985

 

CROSS REFERENCES

 

See also LE Op. 778, LE Op. 796, LE Op. 850, LE Op. 1174, and LE

Op. 1298.