Rule 4-1.15 Safekeeping Property

Lawyers who handle money or property that belongs to clients or other people must follow Florida's official trust accounting rules. This means any funds a lawyer holds that aren't their own, like settlement money, retainers not yet earned, or property tied to a case, has to be kept and tracked the right way.

The point of this rule is to protect clients and make sure lawyers don't mix client money with their own funds or misuse it. Lawyers are expected to keep clear records, keep the money separate, and follow the detailed bookkeeping requirements set out in Florida Bar's trust account rules.

If a lawyer fails to follow these rules, they can face discipline from the Florida Bar. This rule exists so that people trust their lawyer to safely manage money or property involved in their legal matters.