Retention of attorney to bring action; compensation agreements

IndianaStatutes

Ask Donna

How this section applies to your facts.

Indiana Code › Title 34 › Article 24 › Chapter 1 › Section 34-24-1-8

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

Sec. 8. (a) A prosecuting attorney may retain an attorney to bring an action under this chapter only in accordance with this section.

(b) The compensation agreement between a prosecuting attorney and an attorney retained to bring an action under this chapter must be:

(1) in writing; and

(2) approved by the attorney general for form and legality.

(c) An attorney retained under this section must be admitted to the practice of law in Indiana. The attorney retained may not serve as a deputy prosecuting attorney in any county.

(d) A prosecuting attorney or deputy prosecuting attorney who conducts a forfeiture action within the scope of the attorney's duties as a prosecuting attorney or deputy prosecuting attorney in the prosecuting attorney's office may not receive a contingency fee.

(e) A compensation agreement under this section must be a contingency fee agreement limited as follows:

(1) The contingency fee may not exceed thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the first ten thousand dollars ($10,000) of proceeds or money obtained under a settlement or judgment.

(2) The contingency fee may not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the part of the proceeds or money obtained under a settlement or judgment that is more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

(3) The contingency fee may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the part of the proceeds or money obtained under a settlement or judgment that is one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or more.

(4) The contingency fee agreement may establish a minimum fee that does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100).

A court may authorize a compensation agreement between the prosecuting attorney and an attorney retained to bring an action that exceeds the limits described in this subsection if the court finds that the issues presented in the particular forfeiture action are unusually complex or time consuming as compared with other forfeiture actions.

[Pre-1998 Recodification Citation: 34-4-30.1-9.]

As added by P.L.1-1998, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.47-2018, SEC.5.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.

Retention of attorney to bring action; compensation agreements · Ind. Code § 34-24-1-8 | Frix