Maintaining Compliance

The Attorney Annual Renewal begins February 1 and has a deadline of March 30, or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday. The 2026 annual deadline is March 30, 2026. During the Attorney Annual Renewal period, attorneys must complete the following six requirements:

1. Attorney record verification: Verify required information in your State Bar record pursuant to rule 2.2(B) of the Rules of the State Bar of California.
2. Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) reporting: Complete all applicable annual CTAPP reporting requirements.
3. Fee payment: Pay the annual license fees.
4. MCLE compliance reporting: Report MCLE compliance if you are in the current reporting MCLE group.
5. Civility oath declaration: Confirm your civility oath.
6. Pro bono and/or reduced fee legal services reporting: Report the amount of pro bono and/or reduced fee legal services hours provided to low-income individuals, nonprofit organizations, or public law libraries during the prior calendar year. See the Mandatory Pro Bono Hours Reporting FAQ for more information.

Log in to My State Bar Profile to complete your Attorney Annual Renewal requirements. Be sure to check your Compliance Dashboard to determine if you have any outstanding requirements. If any of the required items are not met by March 30, 2026, late fees will be assessed for noncompliance. If you do not comply by the final deadline, your license may be suspended, and you will be ineligible to practice law.

• Learn more about My State Bar Profile
• View the My State Bar Profile & Attorney Annual Renewal Guide
• Access Attorney Record forms

Forgot your password for My State Bar Profile? You may reset your password online or call the Contact Center at 888-800-3400.

You can calculate your annual State Bar fees and costs through My State Bar Profile, and then pay by credit card or electronic check from a checking/savings account (ACH). You can also print the invoice available after you calculate your fees to mail with a payment by check. Mailed payments must include a copy of the generated invoice. Use of My State Bar Profile will ensure compliance with rule 2.11 and avoid nonconforming payment penalties.

View frequently asked questions about paying fees.

25 percent fee scaling reduction 

To review any fee scaling eligibility, refer to rule 2.15 of the Rules of the State Bar of California. Pursuant to rule 2.15, active licensees who have a total gross annual individual income from all sources of less than $60,478.35 may request a 25 percent fee scaling reduction of annual fees. Requests to fee scale must include the required fee scaling declaration signed under penalty of perjury and payment of the reduced fee. The required fee scaling declaration may be submitted online through My State Bar Profile when calculating your annual fees. View frequently asked questions about fee scaling.

50 percent fee waiver reduction

To review any waiver eligibility, refer to rule 2.16 of the Rules of the State Bar of California. Pursuant to rule 2.16(c), licensees who have a total gross annual household income from all sources of $20,000 or less may request a fifty percent waiver of annual fees. A licensee may apply for a 50 percent waiver of annual fees by submitting the required Licensing Fee Waiver Application.

Attorneys are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the information in their State Bar record. Any changes must be reported within 30 days. Pursuant to rule 2.2 (c) of the Rules of the State Bar of California, attorneys are required to verify the information in their State Bar record by March 30 of each year during the Attorney Annual Renewal as part of the attorney record verification requirement.

Additionally, California Business and Professions Code section 6002.1 requires all licensees, regardless of their status, to maintain a current publicly available mailing address on the official records of the State Bar of California. California Rules of Court, rule 9.9 requires licensees to use My State Bar Profile to report changes to contact information and provide a private email address for State Bar communications.

View more information on licensee reporting requirements.

To complete your CTAPP reporting requirement, California Rules of Court, rule 9.8.5 and Rules of the State Bar of California, title 2, division 1, rule 2.5 require licensees to:

• Register annually all IOLTA and non-IOLTA accounts that were open at any point during the reporting period;
• Complete an annual self-assessment of client trust account management practice (questions previewed here); and
• Certify compliance with the rules governing the safekeeping of funds.

Transfer to active status

Only licensees on voluntary inactive status may transfer to active status. While suspended, a licensee cannot change license status. For further questions, please complete the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form.

If you wish to transfer to active status, please submit your request online through My State Bar Profile.

Please note, under California Rules of Court, rule 9.9.5, all inactive licensed attorneys must be in compliance with fingerprinting requirements prior to being placed on active status.

If applicable, once your transfer to active request has been processed and your annual fees have been adjusted, payment will be expected immediately. View more information on submitting a transfer to active request.

Need help? View a guide on how to submit your transfer to active request online through My State Bar Profile.

Transfer to inactive status

Only active licensees may transfer to a voluntary inactive status. While suspended, a licensee cannot change license status. For further questions, please complete the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form.

If you wish to transfer to inactive status, please submit your request online through My State Bar Profile.

Please note, to qualify for the 2026 inactive fee, you must submit your transfer to inactive request by December 1, 2025, and the effective date must be on or before December 31.

You may still transfer to inactive after this date; however, transfers submitted after December 1 will not reduce active fees owed for 2026. View more information on submitting a transfer to inactive request.

Need help? View a guide on how to submit your transfer to inactive request online through My State Bar Profile.

Thinking of retiring?

The State Bar does not have a retired status option; the only voluntary statuses are active, inactive, and resigned. Please remember that annual license fees are waived for licensees on inactive status who are 70 years of age on March 30 and will continue to be waived for subsequent years, as long as they remain inactive. If you are no longer practicing law, you may either transfer to inactive status or resign your license completely.

• View more information on transferring to inactive status.
• View more information on voluntarily resigning.

To voluntarily resign

The State Bar does not have a retired status option; the only voluntary statuses are active, inactive, or resigned. Notification of retirement is not sufficient to change your status. Submission of the Voluntary Resignation Form is required. View more information on voluntary resignation.

Submit a Name Change Form to process your name change request. View more information and access the required form.

A Certificate of Standing must be ordered online. The State Bar issues a Certificate of Standing to verify a licensee’s name, bar number, admission date, current status, any name or status changes, and any public discipline, as of the date of the certificate.

• Certificate of Standing orders are typically sent out within 2–4 business days of receipt of request (regardless of shipping method selected).
• Payment is nonrefundable.

Order a Certificate of Standing and view more information about the types of Certificates of Standing available.

Find more information on how to obtain a California Supreme Court Certificate of Standing.

Under California Rules of Court, rule 9.9.5, active attorneys licensed in California and multijurisdictional practitioners must be re-fingerprinted by following the instructions posted online. See the full fingerprinting rule requirements.

Learn about becoming a certified legal specialist.

The State Bar has a confidential program for attorneys facing substance abuse or mental health issues. The Lawyer Assistance Program is also part of the State Bar’s regulatory mission, providing services to lawyers facing disciplinary charges.

Find information about mandatory arbitration hearings with clients.

Register a law corporation or LLP. Find State Bar resources on managing or closing a law practice.

The State Bar conducts an annual Attorney Census to gather demographic and employment data from the state’s licensees. The Attorney Census contains questions on demographic characteristics, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and veteran’s status. Questions? Visit our frequently asked questions about the Attorney Census.