When the ARDC receives an overdraft notification from a bank, a letter is sent to the lawyer requesting an explanation for the account shortage and supporting documentation. Click here for a list of banks that have agreed to make such notification to the ARDC. Rule 1.15B(e) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct requires Illinois lawyers to maintain client trust accounts only at banks that have agreed to notify the ARDC whenever a trust account is overdrawn or contains insufficient funds to pay an instrument presented against the account regardless of whether the instrument is honored. If funds are deposited into an IOLTA client trust account, Rule 1.15B(b) also requires that a lawyer must review the lawyer's IOLTA account(s) at reasonable intervals to determine whether changed circumstances require further action regarding the deposited client or third-person funds. Rule 1.15B(b) further states: “A lawyer who exercises reasonable judgment in determining whether to deposit client or third-person funds into an IOLTA account or a non-IOLTA client trust account pursuant to this rule will not be subject to a charge of ethical impropriety or other breach of professional conduct on the basis of that determination.” ![]() (6) Any other circumstances that affect the ability of the client's funds to earn net interest for the client.(5) The capability of the financial institution, through sub-accounting, to calculate and pay interest earned by each client's funds, net of any transaction costs, to the individual client and.(4) The cost of establishing and administering a non-IOLTA client trust account for the benefit of the client, including the cost of the lawyer's services, financial institution fees and service charges, and the cost of preparing tax reports.(3) The rate of interest at the financial institution where the funds are to be deposited.(2) The expected duration of the deposit, including the likelihood of delay in the matter for which the funds are held.(1) The amount of client or third-person funds to be deposited.In determining whether funds should be deposited into an IOLTA or non-IOLTA client trust account, Rule 1.15B(b) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct provides that a lawyer or law firm should “exercise reasonable judgment” taking into consideration such factors as: Under no circumstances may the lawyer or law firm receive the interest generated on the account. If funds are capable of earning net interest, those funds should be deposited into a separate interest- or dividend-bearing non-IOLTA trust account with the client designated as the income beneficiary. Typically, trust funds that are nominal in amount or are expected to be held for a short period of time, including advances for costs and expenses, will be deposited in an IOLTA trust account. The answer depends on your reasonable judgment that the funds to be held in trust are capable of earning net interest for an individual client or third person. When funds belonging to another are commingled with a lawyer’s own funds, they may become subject to the claims of creditors, or in the case of death or insolvency of the lawyer, there is a danger of conversion by operation of law with the funds becoming assets of the lawyer’s estate, relegating clients to the status of general creditors. The prohibition against commingling is intended to guard not only against the actual loss of funds but also against the risk of loss. When the property consists of money, it must be held in one or more separate and identifiable trust accounts.Ī lawyer’s failure to segregate client and third-party funds from the lawyer’s own business or personal funds constitutes commingling, which the Illinois Supreme Court has consistently condemned as a serious breach of a lawyer’s professional and ethical duties, and one that is often the first step toward conversion. This rule requires that lawyers hold property of clients and third persons separate from their own property. ![]() ![]() Rule 1.15 of the Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct (IRPC) sets forth the ethical duties a lawyer must fulfill in holding property of clients or third persons received by the lawyer in connection with representation.
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