California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §6409: No legal document assistant or unlawful detainer assistant shall retain in their possession original documents of a client.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Legal document assistants must not keep clients' original documents and must return them immediately upon client request, contract termination, or service completion.

Read the full statutory text

No legal document assistant or unlawful detainer assistant shall retain in their possession original documents of a client. A legal document assistant or an unlawful detainer assistant shall immediately return all of a client’s original documents to the client in any one or more of the following circumstances: (a) If the client so requests at any time. (b) If the written contract required by Section 6410 is not executed or is rescinded, canceled, or voided for any reason. (c) If the services described pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 6410 have been completed.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.