Section 15 - Certificates of Good Standing(A) AuthorityPursuant to the requirements of this section, the Office of Attorney Services may issue the following certificates of good standing for attorneys admitted to the practice of law in Ohio:
(1) A standard certificate of good standing, which shall include the attorney's full name, attorney registration number, and current registration status;(2) A certificate of good standing with disciplinary information, which shall include the attorney's full name; attorney registration number; current registration status; and a summary of any administrative actions, including sanctions and suspensions, and disciplinary information or, if applicable, a statement the attorney has not been subject to any administrative actions or discipline by the Supreme Court.(B) Request for certificateAny person may request the Office of Attorney Services issue either a standard certificate of good standing or a certificate of good standing with disciplinary information for an attorney who is admitted to the practice of law in Ohio by submitting to the office both of the following:
(1) A request on a form provided by the office;(2) A nonrefundable fee of twenty dollars for a request for a standard certificate of good standing or thirty-five dollars for a request for a certificate of good standing with disciplinary information;(3) A nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars for a request made by 2 p.m. eastern time for an expedited same-day certificate of good standing.(C) Review of Supreme Court records(1) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to division (B) of this rule, the Director of Attorney Services shall review the records of the Supreme Court and determine whether the attorney is in good standing. The determination of the director shall be final.(2) The attorney shall be in good standing if all of the following requirements are met:(a) The attorney is in compliance with the attorney registration requirements of Gov. Bar R. VI;(b) The attorney is in compliance with the continuing legal education requirements of Gov. Bar R. X;(c) The attorney is not subject to discipline by order of the Supreme Court pursuant to Gov. Bar R. V, excluding an order of public reprimand, and has no outstanding fees or restitution ordered by the Court or payable to the Court.(3) The attorney shall not be in good standing if any of the following apply: (a) The attorney is not registered with the Office of Attorney Services by September 1 of every odd-numbered year or within thirty days of admission to the practice of law in Ohio in compliance with the attorney registration requirements of Gov. Bar R. VI;(b) The attorney is not in compliance with the continuing legal education requirements of Gov. Bar R. X;(c) The attorney is subject to an order of suspension pursuant to Gov. Bar R. V, including any suspension that has been stayed, in whole or in part;(d) The attorney is subject to an order of probation pursuant to Gov. Bar R. V, including any probation that has not been terminated by order of the court;(e) The attorney is subject to an order of suspension pursuant to Gov. Bar R. VI;(f) The attorney is subject to an order of sanction or order of suspension pursuant to Gov. Bar R. X;(g) The attorney has any outstanding sanctions or fees due to the Supreme Court, including but not limited to costs imposed under Gov. Bar R. V, sanctions or fees due under Gov. Bar VI or X, or unreimbursed amounts due to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection;(h) The attorney is disbarred, retired, or resigned with disciplinary action pending.(D) Issuance of certificateUpon a determination by the Director of Attorney Services that an attorney is in good standing pursuant to division (C) of this section, the Office of Attorney Services shall issue the standard certificate of good standing or certificate of good standing with disciplinary information, as requested. The certificate shall include the seal of the Supreme Court.
Adopted November 13, 2019, effective 2/1/2020; amended effective 2/1/2020; amended February 9, 2023, effective 7/1/2023.