Ethics Opinions

Charging for the Cost of Retrieving a Closed Client File

 

Opinion rules that a lawyer may charge a client the actual cost of retrieving a closed client file from storage, subject to certain conditions, provided the lawyer does not withhold the file to extract payment.

 

Inquiry:

 

May a lawyer charge a client for retrieving a closed file from storage?

 

Opinion:

 

A lawyer may charge a client the actual cost of retrieving a closed client file from storage subject to certain conditions.

 

RPC 209 requires a lawyer to keep a closed client file, on which no further representation is required, a minimum of six years unless the lawyer obtains the consent of the client to destroy the file or, after notice to the client, the client fails to retrieve the file. After six years pass, the lawyer may destroy the file without notifying the client provided the lawyer does not destroy any personal possessions or documents of the client.

 

To charge a client the actual cost of retrieving a closed file from storage, a lawyer must send a notice to the client at the client's last known address within a reasonable period of time after the matter is concluded and the file is closed. The notice should ask the client what the client wants the lawyer to do with the closed file. The options that may be given to the client are as follows: consent to the destruction of the file; agree that the lawyer will store the file with the understanding that the client will be charged the actual cost of retrieving the file from storage; or retrieve the file free of charge from the lawyer's office within a reasonable time after receipt of the notice. If the client directs the lawyer to mail the file, the lawyer may charge the shipping cost to client. If the client fails to respond to the notice, the lawyer must store the file for six years as required by RPC 209 and may recoup from the client the actual expense of retrieving the file at any time during the six year mandatory storage period.

 

The lawyer may not charge the client for photocopying the closed file (or any portion thereof) unless the client requests more than one copy of the file or a document in the file. The client may be charged for duplicate copies of the same document unless the lawyer retained the original document. RPC 178. Regardless of whether a notice was received by the client at the time that the representation was concluded, after a closed file is stored for six years and the lawyer is allowed to destroy the file without the client's consent, the lawyer may charge the client the actual cost of retrieving the file and making copies of the file or any document therein. At no time may a lawyer withhold originals or copies of documents or a file to extract payment of legal fees, retrieval costs, or copying costs; the lawyer has a claim for payment but he may not assert an interest in or lien against the file to secure payment.