A lawyer might want to consider at some point in time to clean and re-organize the files that he or she has received in the course of his practice. If a lawyer wants to do this, then a lawyer might want to first take in consideration any rules that the lawyer is required to follow with regards to destroying old files. The attorney might also want to take a few more precautions just to ensure that they are in compliance with the ethic rules of the state in which they are licensed to practice. For example, a lawyer might want to include a provision within a written fee agreement that gives the attorney the right to destroy the file. A lawyer might want to consider the use of deadlines just in case a client never completely commits to finishing his or her will or trust. Additionally, a lawyer might want to consider contacting their clients periodically to inquire whether the will or trust should remain the same or if it is time to change the document.
See John Ahem, Updating and Cleaning Out Estate Plan Files, Trusts and Estates: Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter, June 2012.
