Who is authorized to sign on a client trust account?

• A. Only a NY lawyer
• B. Any staff member of the firm
• C. The client or client’s representative
• D. A non-lawyer administrator with power of attorney

Answer: (A)

Signing on a client trust account is a fiduciary duty. Funds in a client trust account belong to clients and must be safeguarded and disbursed only under the attorney’s professional oversight. In New York, the person authorized to sign checks on a client trust account must be a licensed New York attorney who bears ultimate responsibility for the trust funds. This accountability helps prevent misappropriation and ensures proper accounting and compliance with ethics rules. Non-lawyer staff, clients or their representatives, or non-lawyer administrators—even if given power of attorney—do not have the authority to sign on a client trust account because that would bypass the attorney’s duty and the regulatory safeguards.