Washington Limited Practice Officer Rules of Professional Conduct – 2026
The ethics rules for Washington's limited practice officers — the closing agents licensed under APR 12 to select, prepare and complete documents in a real estate or personal property transaction. 15 rules, and the Preamble sets the standard plainly: limited practice officers receive a limited license to practice law and are held to the same standard of care as a lawyer when performing the legal services the LPO license authorizes. Rule 1.0 is terminology and Rule 1.1 competence — an LPO must have the knowledge, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary to provide the services, and not every LPO is competent for every transaction. Rule 1.9 states that the powers, duties and responsibilities of an LPO are personal and may not be assigned or delegated to a person who is not an LPO, though the LPO may be assisted by others under adequate supervision. Also here: diligence, communication with clients, confidentiality, conflicts, fees, and the trust account and required-records rules at 1.12A and 1.12B.
Browse all 15 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.