Chapter 5, Trust Accounting, The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar

• 5-1.1 Trust Accounts
• 5-1.2 Trust Accounting Records and Procedures

Forms to Open an IOTA Account

• Notice to Eligible Institution Form
• Sample Trust Account Bank Notification Letter
• Notice to Bar Foundation Form (Complete Online)

Notice of Closed IOTA Account

• Notice of Closed IOTA Account (Complete Online)

Additional Forms

• Monthly Reconciliation Forms
• Minimum Requirements Trust Account Plan Form
• Extended Trust Account Plan Form
• Trust Account Compliance Certificate Instructions
• 2020-2021 Trust Account Compliance Certificate & Pro Bono Report

For more forms visit our Document Library’s Trust Accounting Forms category.

Here are all the Ethics Opinions regarding Trust Accounts:

• Charging fees and expenses from two cases against settlement received in one case 62-15
• Checks identifying lawyer as lawyer 65-14
• Costs advances from client placed in trust account 93-2
• Credit card payments 76-37
• Disclosing possession of client’s funds to client’s creditors 60-34
• Disclosing trust account records to third parties 72-3, 93-5, 12-4
• Disputed funds held in trust 02-4
• Fees, which to place in trust accounts 93-2
• Funds held for a “specific purpose” 82-2, 87-12
• IRS demands records 72-3
• Keeping client funds in several accounts to ensure complete FDIC coverage 72-37
• Liens. See Liens.
• Nonlawyer employee as a signatory 64-40, 64-40 (Rec)
• Nonrefundable retainer 93-2
• Placing client funds in interest-bearing deposits with interest going to law firm 72-13
• Settlement proceeds deposited directly info account in client’s name 00-2, 00-2 (Rec)
• Title insurance company requests agent’s records for audit 93-5, 12-4
• Writ of garnishment served on attorney 66-78

See the Ethics Department’s complete Subject Index of Ethics Opinions. If you have questions about the aforementioned opinions you may contact the Ethics Hotline at 800.235.8619.

*Note: Advisory Ethics Opinions are not binding.

Additional Trust Accounting Resources

• CLE: Trust Accounts by the Book
• CLE: Maintaining a Trustworthy Trust Account
• The Florida Bar Foundation Interest on Trust Accounts Program
• Attorneys Should Verify IOTA Account Titling The Florida Bar News 4-15-14
• Rule 5-1.2 Now Require Written Trust Account Plans The Florida Bar News, 4-1-14
• Billing for Professional Fees, Disbursements and Other Expenses, ABA Ethics Formal Opinion 93-379
• Commonly Asked Questions about Trust Accounts  The Florida Bar News 9-1-2010