How to File a Bar Complaint Against a Texas Attorney

Last updated: August 26, 2026

A bar complaint — called a grievance in Texas — is a written report to the State Bar that an attorney may have violated the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. It is not a lawsuit, it does not award you money, and it is decided by the State Bar rather than by a court. It is the mechanism by which attorney conduct is reviewed for discipline.

The form is here: the State Bar publishes its current grievance form and an online filing system at sbotservices.texasbar.com, where a grievance can be submitted electronically or the form downloaded. The current form took effect October 1, 2025. If you have questions before filing, the State Bar’s Grievance Information Helpline and Client Attorney Assistance Program answer on (800) 932-1900. This site does not host or reproduce the form: it is revised periodically and only the State Bar’s copy is current.

When to File a Grievance

The State Bar of Texas accepts grievances against licensed attorneys who violate the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Conduct that may warrant a grievance includes:

• Filing false or misleading documents with the court
• Making false statements of material fact to a tribunal (Rule 3.03(a)(1))
• Failing to communicate with clients or opposing parties as required
• Mishandling client funds
• Conflicts of interest
• Neglect or abandonment of a case
• Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice

Step 1: Gather Documentation

Before filing, collect all relevant documents:

• Court filings and docket entries
• Correspondence (emails, letters) with the attorney
• Contracts or fee agreements
• Evidence of the misconduct (false certificates, missing returns of service, etc.)
• A timeline of events
• Names and contact information of witnesses

Step 2: Identify the Attorney

You will need the attorney's full legal name and State Bar of Texas identification number. You can look up any Texas attorney at the State Bar's website. For example, if filing against an attorney involved in a SAPCR case, the bar number is typically listed on all court filings.

Step 3: File the Grievance

As of October 1, 2025, the State Bar requires use of its current grievance form. You must answer all questions completely — if a question does not apply, write "not applicable" or "N/A." Do not leave any section blank. Old forms or incomplete forms will be automatically rejected and returned.

Filing methods:

• Online (preferred): Submit electronically at sbotservices.texasbar.com
• By mail: Chief Disciplinary Counsel's Office, State Bar of Texas, P.O. Box 13287, Austin, TX 78711
• By fax: (512) 427-4315
• Questions: Grievance Information Helpline: (800) 932-1900

Include copies (not originals) of all supporting documents — letters, court filings, emails, etc. Do not use staples, post-it notes, or binding. If you are reporting your own attorney, signing the grievance form waives attorney-client privilege regarding discussions between you and the attorney.

Before filing, you may find it helpful to contact the State Bar's Client Attorney Assistance Program at (800) 932-1900 to determine whether a grievance is the right course of action or whether other resources may be beneficial.

Step 4: The Classification Process

Within 30 days of receiving your grievance, the Chief Disciplinary Counsel will classify it:

• "Complaint": The grievance alleges conduct that, if true, would constitute Professional Misconduct — a violation of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. The matter moves forward for investigation.
• "Inquiry": The grievance does not allege Professional Misconduct, or was filed by someone not eligible to file. The grievance is dismissed.

You will receive written notice of the classification. If your grievance is dismissed as an Inquiry, you may appeal the dismissal to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals (BODA), whose decision is final. Alternatively, if you have new or additional information not included in your original grievance, you may amend and re-file it within 20 days of receiving the dismissal notice.

Step 5: Investigation and Resolution

If classified as a Complaint:

1. The attorney is notified and given 30 days to respond to the allegations.
2. The attorney may also appeal the classification to BODA. If BODA grants the appeal, the grievance is dismissed. If denied, the Complaint proceeds.
3. The Chief Disciplinary Counsel investigates to determine whether there is just cause to believe the alleged professional misconduct occurred.
4. If just cause is not found, the matter is placed on a Summary Disposition Panel docket. The panel reviews it without either party present and may either dismiss the Complaint or allow it to proceed. Under Rule 2.13, there is no appeal from that determination either way.
5. If the matter proceeds, the Chief Disciplinary Counsel notifies the attorney, who then has 20 days to elect the forum:
   • An evidentiary panel of a district grievance committee. The hearing is confidential, and the least severe sanction available is a private reprimand.
   • A district court, with or without a jury. The proceeding is public, and the least severe sanction available is a public reprimand.
6. If the attorney does not make a timely election, the case proceeds by default to an evidentiary panel.
7. Sanctions range from private reprimand and public reprimand through suspension to disbarment, and may include restitution and the costs of the proceeding.

All information concerning pending grievances is kept confidential. If the attorney receives a public sanction, information about the grievance is no longer confidential. Dismissed grievance files are disposed of per Rule 2.13 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.

Ombudsman: The Supreme Court of Texas created an independent ombudsman to be a source of information for the public and a monitor of the attorney discipline system.

Filing a TREC Complaint

If the attorney is also licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) as a sales agent, broker, or inspector, you can file a separate complaint with TREC. The process is as follows:

1. Create an account: Sign up for the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management Portal (REALM Portal) at trec.texas.gov.
2. File online: Log into your REALM Portal account and file your complaint through the portal. You can save your progress and return later.
3. Timing: TREC cannot investigate incidents that occurred four or more years ago.
4. Must be in writing: Complaints cannot be filed by phone. You must submit a written complaint with your name and contact information — TREC does not accept anonymous complaints.
5. Provide supporting documents: Attach copies (not originals) of emails, texts, contracts, reports, court filings, and any other relevant documentation.

After filing, TREC assigns a case number and reviews whether it has jurisdiction. You should hear back within 30 days. If an investigation is opened, each person named in the complaint receives a copy. Disciplinary action may include formal reprimand, suspension or revocation of the license, or an administrative penalty.

TREC regulates: real estate sales agents and brokers, real estate inspectors, easement and right-of-way agents, TREC-approved education providers, and individuals engaging in these activities without a license.

Contact: Texas Real Estate Commission, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, TX 78711-2188. Phone: (512) 936-3000. Email: information@trec.texas.gov.

Filing a JBCC Complaint

The Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) oversees the certification, registration, and licensing of court reporters and court reporting firms, guardians, process servers, licensed court interpreters, guardianship programs, and the registration of guardianships throughout Texas. If the misconduct involves one of these professionals, you can file a complaint with the JBCC.

1. Download the form: The JBCC complaint form is available as a PDF from the Texas Judicial Branch website at txcourts.gov/jbcc.
2. Complete the form: Clearly describe the allegations and include all documents and materials that support your complaint. Include your name and contact information — anonymous complaints are not accepted.
3. Submit: Mail or email the completed form and supporting documents to the JBCC Compliance Department. Documents will not be returned, so keep copies.
4. Timeline: The JBCC cannot investigate misconduct that occurred more than 5 years before the complaint was filed.

When a complaint is received, the JBCC determines whether it has jurisdiction and whether the complaint alleges misconduct. If opened for investigation, the respondent receives a copy of the complaint and has 20 days to submit an answer. The compliance investigator will interview the complainant, respondent, and witnesses. Be aware that your identity is not confidential and all documentation may be released to the public.

The Director may administratively dismiss complaints that do not allege misconduct, are outside jurisdiction, or involve events more than 5 years old. If dismissed, you may request in writing that the Commission reconsider the complaint within 30 days.

Resolution process: Once the investigation is complete, the complaint is referred to a Complaint Review Committee of subject matter experts. The Committee reviews all submissions and the investigation report. If violations are found, the Committee determines whether to impose an administrative penalty (up to $500 per violation per day), a sanction (suspension, probated suspension, written reprimand, refusal to renew, or revocation), or both. The respondent receives a Notice of Violation and has 20 days to accept the determination or request a hearing. At a hearing, the respondent may appear, testify, present evidence, and respond to questions. The complainant may attend and may testify at the presiding officer's discretion. Appeals go to a special committee of three Administrative Regional Presiding Judges under an abuse of discretion standard.

Other Regulatory Complaints

Depending on the conduct, you may also file complaints with:

• State Commission on Judicial Conduct: For grievances against Texas judges. P.O. Box 12265, Austin, TX 78711-2265. Phone: (512) 463-5533.
• Local law enforcement: If the conduct constitutes a criminal offense, such as filing a false document with the court.
• County District Attorney: For potential perjury or fraud charges.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If the misconduct involves computer fraud or unauthorized access to legal case materials. File at ic3.gov.

Tips for Filing an Effective Grievance

• Be factual and specific. Avoid emotional language.
• Include dates, case numbers, and document references.
• Organize your complaint chronologically.
• Reference specific Disciplinary Rules you believe were violated.
• Include copies of all supporting documents.
• Keep copies of everything you submit.
• Follow up if you do not receive a response within 60 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a grievance against a Texas attorney anonymous?

No. The grievance form must be signed and dated. If the Chief Disciplinary Counsel classifies your grievance as a Complaint, the attorney receives a copy of it and has thirty days to answer in writing — and that answer goes to both the Chief Disciplinary Counsel and to you. The attorney will know who filed and what was alleged. Pending grievances are confidential as to the public, which is a different thing from being anonymous as to the attorney.

How long do I have to file a grievance?

Four years. Rule 17.06 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure bars discipline for professional misconduct that occurred more than four years before the Chief Disciplinary Counsel receives the grievance. There is one exception: where fraud or concealment is involved, the four years do not begin to run until you discovered the misconduct, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered it. That is a discovery rule rather than an open window — the clock starts when a reasonably diligent person in your position would have found out, which can be earlier than the day you actually did.

What is the difference between a grievance and a fee dispute?

A grievance alleges professional misconduct, meaning a violation of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. A disagreement about the size of a bill, on its own, is usually not misconduct, and a grievance raising only a fee dispute is likely to be classified as an Inquiry and dismissed. Fee disputes are handled through the State Bar's fee dispute resolution process instead. The Client-Attorney Assistance Program at (800) 932-1900 can tell you which track your problem belongs on before you file.

Will filing a grievance change the outcome of my case?

No. The disciplinary system decides whether an attorney keeps a law license. It does not vacate judgments, reopen cases, or reverse orders, and a sanction against an opposing attorney does not by itself set aside an order that attorney obtained. Changing a court order requires a remedy in the court that entered it — a motion for new trial, a restricted appeal, or a bill of review — each with its own deadline. Those deadlines continue to run while a grievance is pending.

What happens after I file, and how long does it take?

The Chief Disciplinary Counsel has thirty days from receipt to classify the grievance as either a Complaint or an Inquiry. If it is classified as a Complaint, the attorney is notified and has thirty days to respond. The Chief Disciplinary Counsel then investigates to decide whether there is just cause to believe misconduct occurred. Even where just cause is found, a Summary Disposition Panel may still dismiss the matter. If it proceeds, the attorney has twenty days to elect whether the case is heard by an evidentiary panel of a district grievance committee or by a district court.

My grievance was dismissed as an "Inquiry." What now?

You have two options. You may appeal the dismissal to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals, whose decision on classification is final. Or, if you have information you did not include the first time, you may amend the grievance and re-file it within twenty days of the dismissal notice. An Inquiry classification means the grievance as written did not allege conduct that would be professional misconduct if it were true; it is not a finding that nothing happened.

How do I report a judge rather than an attorney?

Judges are not covered by the State Bar grievance process. Complaints about the conduct of a Texas judge go to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, a separate agency established under Article V, Section 1-a of the Texas Constitution. It requires a signed, sworn complaint form, available on the Commission's website or by calling (512) 463-5533 or (877) 228-5750. The mailing address is P.O. Box 12265, Austin, TX 78711.