Can a lawyer let clients pay legal fees with a credit card such as Master Charge?
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This page answers the general question as of 1977. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The inquiry asked whether it is ethical for an attorney to offer Master Charge and other credit card services to clients for the payment of fees charged for services rendered to those clients.
The opinion concluded that it is. The committee answered the question simply: yes.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1977 under North Carolina's former Code of Professional Responsibility (the DR/EC framework), before the State Bar replaced the Code with the Rules of Professional Conduct (adopted 1985) and before the 2003 revisions to those Rules. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.
Common questions
Q: Can a lawyer accept credit card payment for legal fees?
A: Yes. The opinion concluded it is ethical for a lawyer to offer credit card services to clients for paying fees for services rendered.
Q: Did the opinion impose any conditions?
A: No. The opinion answered the question simply in the affirmative, without stating conditions.
Background and rules framework
The opinion addressed the permissibility of accepting credit card payment for legal fees, a question about fee collection methods, and concluded the practice is ethical.
Citations and references
The opinion did not cite a specific provision; it concluded that offering credit card payment for fees is ethical.
See also
- NC Ethics Op. RPC 7: using a collection agency for fees
- NC Ethics Op. RPC 2: contingent fee for child support
Source
- Landing page: https://www.ncbar.gov/for-lawyers/ethics-and-governing-rules/ethics-opinions/opinions/cpr-129/
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
Inquiry:
Is it ethical for an attorney to offer Master Charge and other credit card services to clients for the payment of fees charged for services rendered to such clients?
Opinion:
Yes.
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