Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel

Client Security Fund Application

Step 1 of 8

Before Filing a Client Security Fund Application

The Client Security Fund (CSF) provides financial relief to clients who have lost their money or property as a result of an attorney’s dishonest conduct. Dishonest conduct is defined as a wrongful taking of money or property or failure to refund an unearned fee. The fund is administered through the Office of The Chief Disciplinary Counsel of the State Bar of Texas.

An application for reimbursement must be filed within 18 months after the grievance is final or within 18 months following the attorney’s disbarment, resignation, or death.
If no grievance was filed, the application must be filed within four years of the time the loss was discovered or should have been discovered.

THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS HAS NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTS OF INDIVIDUAL LAWYERS. NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO A GRANT FROM THE CLIENT SECURITY FUND. AVAILABLE AMOUNTS ARE LIMITED, AND GRANTS ARE MADE ONLY IN THE SOLE AND FINAL DISCRETION OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS.

CSF Eligibility Requirements

A person must have filed a grievance against his lawyer which resulted in a disciplinary sanction. (Statute of limitations: must be filed within 18 months following date of judgment in their case).

If the lawyer is already deceased, disbarred, or resigned in lieu of discipline, the requirement re filing a grievance is waived. (Statute of limitations: within 4 years of the date of disciplinary judgment (a disbarment or resignation) or death)

I have read and acknowledge the submission requirements

INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Suffix

Phone

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Date of Birth

Attorney that stole money or failed to refund an unearned fee

Search and select the attorney against whom you believe stole money or failed to refund an unearned fee. The search returns up to 100 results, if you cannot find the attorney refine your search.

First Name

Last Name

Firm

Bar Number

Enter criteria & click Search

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LOSS

Was the loss suffered by a business entity?

Yes No

Company Name

Form of Business Entity

Did your loss involve:

Specify

(1800 characters remaining)

State the amount of your loss:

(1800 characters remaining)

State the date when the loss of your money or property occurred:

State the date when you discovered your loss:

How did you discovered the loss?

(1800 characters remaining)

Have you been reimbursed for any part of your loss?

Yes No

Amount recieved:

Name of Person who paid:

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Describe what steps you have taken to recover the loss directly from the attorney, or any other source:

(1800 characters remaining)

Have you previously applied to the Client Security Fund?

Yes No

Date you applied to the Fund:

Client Security Fund Number:

Upload Supporting Documents (optional)

You can upload up to 10 supporting documents, with a maximum file size of 25 MB per file.

Required Documentation to Include with your Application:

To process your application, the following documents are required:

Copies of canceled checks (both sides) or receipts to prove the amount you paid to the attorney, or the amount stolen by the attorney, and
a copy of the contract (if any) with the attorney.

The required documentation must be received within 30 days of receipt of your application. Your application will not be processed without this information. You can Fax your documents to the CSF dedicated fax line 512-427-4239.

Add Document Accepted formats: PDF, Word, Images, Text, Audio

Uploaded Files (0/10):

No files selected yet

Do you plan to physically mail/fax any addtional supporting documents to our office?

Yes No

Any additional information/documentation that you would like to include as part of your application, outside of what you upload today, must be received in this office by mail or fax within (30) days after submission of your application. Please limit your additional information to 25 pages. Information, including audio, video or image files, submitted on a USB thumb drive or flash drive must not exceed 25MB. Information submitted on CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes or other unsupported media will not be reviewed and will be returned. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Review Client Security Fund Application

Review your information before continuing. Click 'Previous' to go back and make corrections.

Consent & Sign

Consent to the terms and sign to complete the submission of your application.

IMPORTANT: LIMITATIONS AND AGREEMENTS

A. This application is executed and filed in order to induce the State Bar of Texas to process, investigate, and consider in its sole discretion the reimbursement from its Client Security Fund of all or part of the loss incurred by the applicant as a result of the dishonest conduct of the lawyer named in this application.

B. ASSIGNMENT OF APPLICANT RIGHTS AND SUBROGATION
In the event the State Bar of Texas makes payment to Applicant from the Fund, then the State Bar of Texas shall be subrogated to all rights to recovery which the Applicant might have against any person, firm, or organization.

Should Applicant accept any payment from the Fund, he or she agrees:

That the State Bar of Texas shall have the right to recover from any liable person or firm an amount equal that paid by the Fund to the applicant before the applicant may receive or recover any part or portion of the recovery.

Applicant hereby assigns and conveys to the State Bar of Texas such right of recovery as well as the right to pursue in the name of Applicant any claim or suit against any firm or person who the State Bar of Texas may consider liable.
That Applicant shall cooperate fully with the State Bar of Texas in any attempt by the State Bar of Texas to recover from any firm, person, or organization who the State Bar of Texas may in its discretion deem liable for repayment to Applicant and/or the Fund.

Cooperation as above used shall mean among other things, the giving of sworn testimony, orally or in writing, at such times and places as the State Bar may request.
That Applicant shall execute any instruments which the State Bar of Texas may in its discretion deem necessary to enable it to pursue any claim, demand, or suit against any liable person or firm.
That Applicant shall do nothing to hamper, destroy, or diminish any recovery by State Bar of Texas against any liable firm, person, or organization.

IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING, Applicant agrees to cooperate in the investigation of this claim and also in any related disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer(s) in question; and, as condition precedent to any payment from said Fund, Applicant agrees to execute and deliver to the State Bar of Texas such instrument or instruments as may be required.

Applicant has read the Rules applicable to the Texas State Bar Client Security Fund proceedings and agrees to be bound by the same.

I declare under penalty or perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Printed Signature:

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Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel

Client Security Fund Application

Before Filing a Client Security Fund Application

CSF Eligibility Requirements

INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

Attorney that stole money or failed to refund an unearned fee

Attorney that stole money or failed to refund an unearned fee:

INFORMATION ABOUT ATTORNEY

Search and select attorney currently representing you

Attorney currently representing you:

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LOSS

Upload Supporting Documents (optional)

Uploaded Files (0/10):

Review Client Security Fund Application

Consent & Sign