Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 519, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1994.
An attorney with whom a document has been deposited, or to whom a document has been transferred pursuant to this article, may terminate the deposit only as provided in this article.
Article 2 - Termination by Attorney
California Probate Code — §§ 730-735
Sections (6)
Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 519, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1994.
An attorney may terminate the deposit by one of the following methods:
(a)Personal delivery of the document to the depositor.
(b)Mailing the document to the depositor’s last known address, by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested, and receiving a signed receipt.
(c)The method agreed on by the depositor and attorney.
Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 11. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.
(a)An attorney may terminate a deposit under this section if the attorney has delivered notice pursuant to Section 1215 to reclaim the document to the depositor’s last known address and the depositor has failed to reclaim the document within 90 days after delivery.
(b)Subject to subdivision (f), an attorney may terminate a deposit under this section by transferring the document to another attorney. All documents transferred under this subdivision shall be transferred to the same attorney.
(c)Subject to subdivision (f), if an attorney is deceased, lacks legal capacity, or is no longer an
active member of the State Bar, a deposit may be terminated under this section by transferring the document to the clerk of the superior court of the county of the depositor’s last known domicile. The attorney shall advise the clerk that the document is being transferred pursuant to this section.
(d)An attorney may not accept a fee or compensation from a transferee for transferring a document under this section. An attorney may charge a fee for receiving a document under this section.
(e)Transfer of a document by an attorney under this section is not a waiver or breach of any privilege or confidentiality associated with the document, and is not a violation of the rules of professional conduct. If the document is privileged under Article 3 (commencing with Section 950) of
Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code, the document remains privileged after the transfer.
(f)If the document is a will and the attorney has actual notice that the depositor has died, the attorney may terminate a deposit only as provided in Section 734.
Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 12. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.
(a)An attorney transferring one or more documents under Section 732 shall deliver notice pursuant to Section 1215 of the transfer to the State Bar of California. The notice shall contain all of the following information:
(1)The name of the depositor.
(2)The date of the transfer.
(3)The name, address, and State Bar number of the transferring attorney.
(4)Whether any documents are transferred to an attorney, and the name, address, and State Bar number of the
attorney to whom the documents are transferred.
(5)Whether any documents are transferred to a superior court clerk.
(b)The State Bar shall record only one notice of transfer for each transferring attorney. The State Bar shall prescribe the form for the notice of transfer. On request by any person, the State Bar shall give that person information in the notice of transfer. At its sole election, the State Bar may give the information orally or in writing.
Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 519, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1994.
(a)In cases not governed by subdivision (b) or (c), after the death of the depositor an attorney may terminate a deposit by personal delivery of the document to the depositor’s personal representative.
(b)If the document is a will and the attorney has actual notice that the depositor has died but does not have actual notice that a personal representative has been appointed for the depositor, an attorney may terminate a deposit only as provided in Section 8200.
(c)If the document is a trust, after the death of the depositor an attorney may terminate a deposit by personal delivery of the document either to the depositor’s personal representative or to the trustee named in the document.
Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 519, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1994.
(a)If the attorney is deceased or lacks legal capacity, a deposit may be terminated as provided in this article by the attorney’s law partner, by a shareholder of the attorney’s law corporation, or by a lawyer or nonlawyer employee of the attorney’s firm, partnership, or corporation.
(b)If the attorney lacks legal capacity and there is no person to act under subdivision (a), a deposit may be terminated by the conservator of the attorney’s estate or by an attorney in fact
acting under a durable power of attorney. A conservator of the attorney’s estate may act without court approval.
(c)If the attorney is deceased and there is no person to act under subdivision (a), a deposit may be terminated by the attorney’s personal representative.
(d)If a person authorized under this section terminates a deposit as provided in Section 732, the person shall give the notice required by Section 733.