---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-1-12. Restrictions on contingency fee compensation of attorney appointed to represent state in forfeiture action.
collection: code
id: 16-1-12
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-1-12 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-12
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-12.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-12/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch1-6-(v14)-2019-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=af47a366_0#page=135
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-1-12. Restrictions on contingency fee compensation of attorney appointed to represent state in forfeiture action.

(a) In any forfeiture action brought pursuant to this title, an attorney appointed by the Attorney General or district attorney as a special assistant attorney general, special assistant district attorney, or other attorney appointed to represent this state in such forfeiture action shall not be compensated on a contingent basis by a percentage of assets which arise or are realized from such forfeiture action. Such attorneys shall also not be compensated on a contingent basis by an hourly, fixed fee, or other arrangement which is contingent on a successful prosecution of such forfeiture action.

(b) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as prohibiting or otherwise restricting the Attorney General or a district attorney from appointing special assistants or other attorneys to assist in the prosecution of any action brought pursuant to this title.

## History

Code 1981, § 16-1-12, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 1035, § 2/SB 181.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2012, p. 1035, § 3/SB 181, approved by the Governor May 2, 2012, provided that the effective date of this Code section is July 1, 2011. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 76-76 for construction of effective date provisions that precede the date of approval by the Governor.