OBLIC news, events and updates.
New Laws will Impact Practice in Domestic Relations, Probate, Guardianship, and Negligence Law
Three new laws enacted by the 134th Ohio General Assembly are scheduled to take effect this spring: SB 210 Establishes postnuptial agreements and amends Domestic Violence definitions SB 202 Prohibits disability as the sole basis to deny parenting rights; establishes the validity of a recorded real property instrument when signed by an attorney-in-fact; and other […]
Best Practices – Removing Metadata
Metadata is defined as a set of data that describes and gives information about other data. Metadata isn’t “bad” per se. It’s what makes it possible to search for information in digital format. Computers, iphones and other devices automatically embed metadata in digital files. This metadata can include a plethora of information about the file […]
Closing a Law Practice
We frequently receive questions surrounding the closing of a law practice. Whether due to retirement, change in careers, or something unplanned, here are some suggested steps to facilitate the process of closing a practice. Establish a target date for closing the practice If the closing is due to retirement, allow at least one year to […]
Rules Update – New Rules Adopted and Proposed Amendments for Comment
Standard Probate Forms Effective January 1, 2023, the Ohio Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Rules of Superintendence that change standard probate forms. For lawyers dealing with the estate of a deceased lawyer trying to address funds in the decedent’s client trust account, the creation by the amendments of Form 13.11 Application to Disburse Attorney […]
Best Practices to Address Challenging Practice Situations – Request for Client File
The practice of law presents situations that challenge even the most experienced attorneys. This Alert will discuss responding to a request for a client file. The request for a client file may come during the representation when a client becomes disgruntled and terminates the representation, at the conclusion of the representation, or long after the […]
Cybersecurity: Ransomware Threats
We hope you had a cybersafe holiday! Ransomware continues to pose a cyberthreat. The Ohio Supreme Court recently reversed a decision of the Second District Court of Appeals in its decision EMOI Services, L.L.C. v. Owners Insurance Company, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-4649, holding that a businessowners insurance policy did not cover losses which resulted from […]
Wire Transaction Fraud: Impact on All Areas of Practice
OBLIC has recently seen an uptick in the number of claims arising out of wire transaction fraud. Title agents and lawyers completing real estate closings, once a hotbed of wire transaction fraud, have been peppered with warnings over the last several years to have procedures in place to reduce the potential for these claims. In […]
Considering an “Of Counsel” Relationship
The decision to enter into an of counsel relationship requires careful consideration by both the of counsel lawyer and the law firm. The arrangement can be beneficial to both sides if both are aware of the insurance coverage implications and associated ethical obligations. The Of Counsel Relationship The first step is for both lawyer and […]
Client Communication: Saying Thanks!
This time of year we often hear about gratitude. It’s not just a seasonal concept! There are very real benefits to practicing gratitude all year long as noted in the article The Importance of Gratitude. Although a thank you note might not seem effective, it can have significant positive benefits. Gratitude can have professional benefits […]
OBLIC ALERT Saves Lawyers from Scam
After publishing our OBLICAlert – “Social Engineering and the Fraudulent Check Scam” (copied below) we heard from two of our OBLIC policyholders who read it and used what they had learned to avoid becoming victims of this scam. This validates our concern that this scam is continuing to circulate and target our policyholders. In case […]
