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Estate Planning Lawyers: does your legal services contract have a mandatory selection clause?

Uncategorized Mar 23, 2018
post about Estate Planning Lawyers: does your legal services contract have a mandatory selection clause?

Many with an estate planning or tax practice have out of state clients, who reside, own a business or residence in another state. If there is a disagreement between you and your client, could you be sued in another state? Or, to get paid, do you have to go to another state? Consider adding a mandatory forum selection clause to your legal services contract.

The March 22nd, 2018 1st DCA case of Baker v. Economic Research Services, Inc, reminds us that mandatory forum selection clauses are valid in Florida. Here’s the link to the 1st DCA opinion if you want to read it. https://edca.1dca.org/DCADocs/2016/4139/164139_1286_03222018_09503462_i.pdf/ Want suggested language to insert into your legal services contract? Here you go: This Contract makes Client and the Firm subject to the jurisdiction of Palm Beach County courts, which shall be the sole and exclusive venue for all matters between Client and Firm, including for such things as fee disputes, enforcement or interpretation of this contract, and all claims against Firm. This is a mandatory forum selection clause.