August 6, 2019
By Gayle Eskridge, Principal, Eskridge Law, and former member, LACBA Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee. She can be reached at geskridge@eskridgelaw.net. The opinions expressed below are her own. They are provided as suggestions by someone who has seen firsthand the consequences of attorneys and other professionals failing to plan for their death.
The subject of death of a sole practitioner raises two issues: 1) What action should the sole practitioner take in advance of death in order to protect the rights of their clients and to protect their family from the added burden of having to handle the winding down of the practice? 2) What happens to the practice after the death if the sole practitioner fails to plan?
Planning for One’s Own Death
As of 2018, 30% of California attorneys who were in private practice were sole practitioners.1 The typical sole practitioner does not work closely with other attorneys, and often does not share office space with other attorneys. Some sole practitioners do not even have any support staff. Even if the sole practitioner has a back-up attorney on whom they rely, clients normally do not have any idea who the back-up attorney is. Consequently, when an attorney dies, clients have absolutely no idea who they can even contact to obtain their files. Considering the prevalence of this type of practice, there is surprisingly little guidance in California law regarding what action a sole practitioner is required to take in planning for the possibility that they may die while still in practice.
The California Rules of Professional Conduct contain no guidance specific to this issue. Rule 1.1, in part, provides:
(A) A lawyer shall not intentionally, recklessly, with gross negligence, or repeatedly fail to perform legal services with competence.
(B) For purposes of this rule, “competence” in any legal service shall mean to apply the (i) learning and skill, and (ii) mental, emotional, and physical ability reasonably* necessary for the performance of such service.
(C) If a lawyer does not have sufficient learning and skill when the legal services are undertaken, the lawyer nonetheless may provide competent representation by (i) associating with or, where appropriate, professionally consulting another lawyer whom the lawyer reasonably believes* to be competent, (ii) acquiring sufficient learning and skill before performance is required, or (iii) referring the matter to another lawyer whom the lawyer reasonably believes* to be competent.
(D) In an emergency a lawyer may give advice or assistance in a matter in which the lawyer does not have the skill ordinarily required if referral to, or association or consultation with, another lawyer would be impractical. Assistance in an emergency must be limited to that reasonably* necessary in the circumstances.
Surely the requirement of diligence in performing legal services includes the requirement for a sole practitioner to plan for their own demise.
The ABA model rules address this issue in Comment 5 to Rule 1.3.
Comment 5 sets forth the following guidance for succession planning:
“To prevent neglect of client matters in the event of a sole practitioner’s death . . . , the duty of diligence may require that each sole practitioner prepare a plan, in conformity with applicable rules, that designates another competent lawyer to review client files, notify each client of the lawyer’s death . . . , and determine whether there is a need for immediate protective action . . . .”
Although California has not adopted this rule, it would seem to logically follow that in order for a sole practitioner to comply with the “diligence” requirement of California Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.3, they should prepare a plan that designates another competent lawyer to review client files, notify each client of their death, and determine whether there is a need for immediate action. When deciding on an attorney to designate, the sole practitioner should take in consideration not only the expertise and experience which is required of the designee, but also the likelihood of conflicts of interest. Sole practitioners within small communities may even need to designate an attorney who is outside their locale, in order to avoid likely conflicts of interest. The designated succession attorney should obviously consent to the designation, and it would be a very good idea to meet with the designated attorney, discuss various details (including how the designated attorney will be compensated), and to thoroughly document the arrangement.2
Estate planning documents would also need to be altered to be consistent with the succession plan. Sole practitioners should also make an effort to organize and maintain their practices (rather than keeping most of the information in their heads), to allow for as easy a transition as possible. If death is imminent (such as within six months), the attorney should inform clients regarding the succession attorney’s eventual role.
Probate Code section 2468(a) details the steps a conservator of an estate may take when an attorney becomes disabled while engaged in the practice of law. The same basic concepts could apply in the untimely death of a sole practitioner. Once the death occurs, the conservator of the estate of the deceased sole practitioner, or other person interested in the estate, could then bring a petition before the probate court, seeking the appointment of the designated succession attorney (which the Probate Code refers to as the “practice administrator”) to take control of the files and assets of the practice of the [deceased] member and carry out the specified tasks. [Prob. Code § 2468(a).] The advantages of providing in advance for a practice administrator under the Probate Code, compared to the consequences of failing to plan (discussed below) include the ability to specify the identity of the succession attorney/practice administrator, the ability of the attorney’s personal representative to have some control over disposition of the attorney’s practice, and the fact that there is no requirement to involve the State Bar in the process. The procedure for appointment of a “practice administrator” is provided for by Probate Code sections 2468(a) and 9764(a), and 17200(b)(22) and (23), and is authorized by the State Bar Act at Business &Professions Code section 6185.3.
Consequences of Failing to Plan for Death
If no arrangements have been made for a succession attorney (or “practice administrator”) to be appointed through the probate procedure, the closing down of the practice will be one more burden for family and friends who are already going through a difficult time. Procedurally, what happens, is any client, the State Bar, or any interested person or entity, may apply to the superior court in the county of the attorney’s principal place of practice or residence for court assumption of jurisdiction over the attorney’s law practice. If the action is initiated by someone other than the State Bar, the State Bar is permitted to intervene and to assume primary responsibility for conducting the action. [Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180.2.] This procedure is set forth in the State Bar Act (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180, et seq.). The process is initiated by the filing of a verification, which leads to an order to show cause, and then to a hearing on the merits. [Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6180.3 and 6180.4.] An order assuming jurisdiction over a law practice is nonappealable andmay not be stayed by petition for extraordinary writ except as ordered by the superior court or appellate court. [Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180.13.] No person shall incur liability for instituting or maintaining (or failing to institute or maintain) proceedings for court assumption of jurisdiction over a law practice under the statute. [Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180.11.]
A court assuming jurisdiction over a law practice may make all orders which are necessary or appropriate to exercise its jurisdiction. [Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180.5.] The court will normally appoint an attorney who is an active member of the State Bar to act on its behalf in undertaking various tasks which are itemized in Business & Professions Code section 6180.5. The appointed attorney does not take over the practice permanently, however.
She is limited to applying for extensions of time pending employment of substitute counsel by the clients, and filing notices, motions, and pleadings on clients’ behalf and with clients’ consent where jurisdictional time limits are involved and substitute counsel has not been retained. [Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180.6.] Court appointed attorneys are generally not compensated, although they may be paid reasonable compensation by the State Bar in cases where the State Bar has determined that the appointed attorney has devoted extraordinary time and services which were necessary to the performance of their appointment. [Bus. & Prof. Code § 6180.12.]4
In conclusion, in death as in life, it is always better to plan than to leave things to chance. (Hope is not a strategy.)
1. 2018 Solo & Small Firm, January 2019 (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_practice/publications/techreport/ABATECHREPORT2018/SoloSmallFirm/).
2. There is a sample agreement to close an attorney’s law practice in the future which is available on the State Bar website. This and many other helpful materials are available at http://ethics.calbar.ca.gov/Ethics/SeniorLawyersResources/Articles.aspx.http://www.lyster.com/estates/post_mortem_probate/death.htm
3. See Vapnek, Tuft, Peck & Wiener, CAL. PRAC. GUIDE: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (The Rutter Group 2013), pp. 1-84 through 1-90, for a further discussion of these procedures.
4. See Vapnek, Tuft, Peck & Wiener, CAL. PRAC. GUIDE: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (The Rutter Group 2013), pp. 1-80 through 1-84, for a further discussion of these procedures.
Need more information?
ESKRIDGE LAW may be contacted by phone (310/303-3951), by fax (310/303-3952) or by email (geskridge@eskridgelaw.net.) Please also visit our website at eskridge.hv-dev.com.
This article is based on the law as of the date posted at the top of the article. This article does not constitute the provision of legal advice, and does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship with Eskridge Law.