The State Bar of Texas urges lawyers to evaluate their contingency plans. With advance preparation, a law practice is poised to adjust in times of adversity.

 

Sometimes, cessation of practice is sudden and unexpected. Without advance planning, the consequence can be a legacy of difficulty for clients, colleagues, and the lawyer’s family.

 

To reduce uncertainty, a lawyer may designate a custodian-attorney in advance. The custodian-attorney does not “inherit” the lawyer’s law practice, but serves in a more limited role to wind down the practice in the event of need.

 

For client protection and emergency management, Texas lawyers may use this portal to designate one or more custodian-attorneys. The succession planning toolkit assists with the transition from practice. It takes the designator from the beginning to the end of the process and is straightforward and easy to use. The toolkit can be accessed here.