CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW
...Attorney Fees
......Between Attorney and Client
.........Client's File
6 Cards On This Topic:

Attorney terminating employment shall return client's papers and property as well as unearned fees.

At termination of employment, atty must turn over to client or successor atty electronic copies of all of client’s pleadings, discovery requests and responses, deposition and exhibit databases, transactional documents, and emails.

Client's having copies of documents in attorney's file will not excuse attorney's refusal to turn over client's file to successor attorney upon demand.

Attorney may not demand consideration for turning over client's file to successor attorney; file belongs to client, not attorney.

Attorney may not retain interest in client's property (file) as security for fees pursuant to written agreement unless property has economic value to attorney.

Attorney may not withhold client's file until bill paid.