Succession Planning: Additional Resources

The Duty to Plan Ahead

• Terminology and Forms
• Implementing Your Plan
• Access to the Trust Account
• Client Notification
• Other Steps That Pay Off
• Death of a Sole Practitioner: Special Considerations
• Start Now

What If? Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQ’s

Checklists

• Checklist for Lawyers Planning to Protect Clients’ Interests in the Event of the Lawyer’s Death, Disability, Impairment or Incapacity
• Checklist for Closing Another Attorney’s Office
• Checklist for Closing Your Own Office
• Checklist for Closing Your Trust Accounts

Sample Fillable Forms

• Agreement – Full Form (Agreement to Close Law Practice)
• Agreement – Short Form (Consent to Close Office)
• Limited Power of Attorney
• Specimen Signature of Attorney-In-Fact
• Letter of Understanding
• Notice of Designated Assisting Attorney
• Notice of Designated Authorized Signer
• Will Provisions
• Letter Advising That Lawyer Is Unable to Continue in Practice
• Letter Advising That Lawyer Is Closing His/Her Office
• Letter From Firm Offering to Continue Representation
• Acknowledgment of Receipt of File
• Authorization for Transfer of Client File
• Request for File
• Office Closure File Tracking Chart
• Law Office List of Contacts

Articles, Rules, Formal Opinions, Resources

• Resource Phone Numbers, Addresses and Contacts
• File Retention and Destruction
• In Brief article: “Why Did We EVER Want to Keep Original Wills?”
• American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility Formal Opinion 92-369