Client Trust Account and IOLTA Registration

Follow this step-by-step guide to register or update Client Trust Accounts (CTA), including IOLTA, information through your My State Bar Profile. Licensees must complete the five-step process when completing the annual CTA (including IOLTA) reporting requirements by February 1 of each year during the license renewal process. Any updates to IOLTA must be reported to the State Bar through your My State Bar Profile no later than 30 days after the change, as required by State Bar Rule 2.2 (C).

  • Log in to your My State Bar Profile account.
  • Confirm and complete annual verification of your State Bar record. Note: This is a one-time annual verification, and you will not be prompted again once the verification is completed.
  • View your CTA reporting requirement compliance status and select the “CTA (including IOLTA)” link in the grey Client Trust Account and IOLTA Annual Reporting box.
  • Review the Client Trust Account (including IOLTA) reporting requirements. Select “Go to CTA (including IOLTA)” and follow the steps below to satisfy the reporting requirements:

Step 1: Respond to the annual CTA (including IOLTA) reporting questions (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5(a)(1)).

Step 2: Register and update CTA, non-California IOLTA, and California-IOLTA (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5(a)(2)).

Step 3: Answer the 12 question self-assessment (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 9.8.5(a)(3)). See a preview of the self-assessment.

Step 4: Submit the certification of compliance (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5(a)(1)(b)).

Step 5: Submit the declaration to complete the reporting process.

Currently, licensees must first complete the five-step process detailed above each time they need to report updates to their IOLTA. If you have questions on updating your IOLTA account online, contact the State Bar of California IOLTA Program at 415-538-2252 or iolta@calbar.ca.gov.  For questions on CTA reporting requirements, please email ctapp@calbar.ca.gov.

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