2005 California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 873.110-873.160 Article 2. Contracts of Referee

873.110.  Subject to the limitations of this article, the court may:
   (a) Authorize or approve contracts of the referee for the services
and expenses of surveyors, engineers, appraisers, attorneys, real
estate brokers, auctioneers, and others.
   (b) Allow and direct payment of or reject claims under such
contracts.
   (c) Provide for the date of commencement of any lien provided by
law or contract for such claims.
873.120.  (a) The referee may employ an attorney only with the
approval of the court pursuant to Section 873.110.
   (b) The application for approval shall be in writing and shall
include the name of the attorney whom the referee wishes to employ
and the necessity for the employment.
   (c) The attorney so employed may not be attorney for, or
associated with or employed by an attorney for, any party to the
action except with the written consent of all the parties to the
action.
   (d) Any claim for compensation for the attorney shall detail the
services performed by the attorney.
873.130.  The referee may, with the approval of the court pursuant
to Section 873.110, employ a surveyor with the necessary assistants
to aid in making a sale or division of property.
873.140.  The referee may, with the approval of the court pursuant
to Section 873.110, employ an auctioneer, authorized to act as such
in the locality, to conduct a public auction and to secure purchasers
by such method for any property to be sold at public auction.
873.150.  A contract for the services of an attorney, surveyor,
auctioneer, or other third person may provide for the accrual of
interest at a rate not in excess of the legal rate for amounts due
under the contract that are not paid within three months after the
time they become due and payable.
873.160.  The referee is not personally liable on contracts made, or
for expenses incurred, except as such liability is expressly assumed
by the referee in writing.