Procuring cause is the standard used to determine which agent is entitled to a commission when more than one may claim credit for a sale. It refers to the agent whose actions set in motion an unbroken chain of events that resulted in the buyer purchasing the property.
Disputes over procuring cause arise when, for example, one agent shows a buyer a home but the buyer later writes an offer with a different agent. Deciding who truly caused the sale depends on the facts, not simply who was first or who was present at closing.
These disputes are typically resolved through broker negotiation or arbitration, often under association or MLS rules. Clear buyer representation agreements help prevent procuring cause conflicts.