Hiring a Business Lawyer in Texas
How to form an LLC in Texas, the state fees and yearly filings, how to check a lawyer's license, and the state bar's fee rules. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Texas: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.04(d), a contingent fee agreement must be in writing and state how the fee is determined; if the percentage differs for settlement, trial or appeal, each percentage must be stated. The agreement must state the litigation and other expenses to be deducted from the recovery and whether they are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. At the end, the lawyer must give the client a written statement describing the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was determined. Rule 1.04(e) bars contingent fees for defending a criminal case. Rule 1.04(a) prohibits illegal or unconscionable fees. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Texas's Client-Attorney Assistance Program (CAAP), a confidential statewide dispute resolution service, helps clients and lawyers resolve minor disagreements and can help you communicate with your attorney about a fee, but it cannot recover fees or refunds. If you believe a fee is unjust or unsupported by the fee agreement or work performed, the bar advises filing a grievance; CAAP and the grievance process cannot be used at the same time. CAAP staff answer 1-800-932-1900. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The State Bar of Texas Client Security Fund generally requires a grievance that results in findings that the lawyer stole the client's money or failed to refund an unearned fee, unless the lawyer is already disbarred, resigned in lieu of discipline or deceased, plus proof of the loss. Apply online within 18 months after the date of the disciplinary judgment. |
Texas rules to know first
| How to form an LLC | File a Certificate of Formation for a Limited Liability Company (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State. The Secretary of State strongly encourages electronic filing through SOSPortal, its online business filing system (launched September 29, 2026, replacing SOSDirect), which lets filers receive evidence of processing in real time; paper forms are also available. The pages reviewed did not state standard processing times. |
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| LLC filing fee | The Certificate of Formation for a Texas LLC (Form 205) costs $300. Optional expedited processing is extra: Standard Expedite $50, Next Day Expedite $500, and Same Day Expedite $750. Credit card payments through SOSPortal add a convenience fee of $0.25 per transaction plus 2.25% of the amount charged. |
| Registered agent | Every LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in Texas. The agent may be an individual Texas resident, or an organization (other than the LLC itself) registered or authorized to do business in Texas, and must consent to serve. The registered office must be a street address where process can be personally served on the agent; it cannot be solely a mailbox service or telephone answering service. A change of registered agent and/or registered office (Form 401) costs $15. |
| Annual report | Texas LLCs do not file an annual report with the Secretary of State. LLCs subject to the state franchise tax file annually with the Comptroller of Public Accounts, and as part of the annual franchise tax report they file a Public Information Report listing officers, directors and managers. The annual franchise tax report is due May 15 (next business day if May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday). |
| Operating agreement | Texas calls the operating agreement a "company agreement," defined as any agreement, written, implied, or oral, of the members about the LLC's affairs or business. A single-member LLC's company agreement is not unenforceable just because only one person is a party. No requirement to file it with the Secretary of State was found. |
| Closing an LLC | A Texas LLC files a Certificate of Termination of a Domestic Entity (Form 651) with the Secretary of State; the fee is $40. A foreign LLC files a withdrawal or termination of registration (Forms 608, 609, 612); the fee is $15. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) helps you find a lawyer or other resource matched to your legal needs and financial means; staff cannot give legal advice. For Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Jefferson, Travis and Tarrant Counties, use the local certified lawyer referral service listed by the State Bar. For all other counties, call (800) 252-9690 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST; Spanish spoken) or use the online referral. After the referral, you call to make an appointment; the lawyer provides up to a 30-minute consultation for no more than $20. LRIS has no participating attorneys who offer free or reduced-fee help, and fees after the consultation are set between you and the lawyer. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Texas's online membership directory (Find a Lawyer) provides basic information about attorneys licensed to practice in Texas. The bar notes the information is provided as is, without warranty, and that the directory is not a certified lawyer referral service. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Grievances against Texas lawyers go to the State Bar of Texas Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel. Complete the current grievance form (effective October 1, 2025) through the bar's online submission system, or mail or fax it to State Bar of Texas, Chief Disciplinary Counsel's Office, P.O. Box 13287, Austin, Texas 78711 (fax 512-427-4315); outdated or incomplete forms are rejected, and supporting documents should be copies. Within 30 days the Chief Disciplinary Counsel classifies the grievance as an Inquiry (dismissed) or a Complaint (investigated, with the attorney asked to respond). A dismissed grievance can be amended and re-filed within 20 days of the dismissal notice, and dismissals can be appealed to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals. Grievance Information Helpline: 1-800-932-1900. |
All legal help in Texas · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.