IOLTA Rules by State: Complete 50-State Guide

Additional context: The Alabama State Bar IOLTA program (alabar.org/iolta) administers the state's program, and as of February 2025 the Alabama State Bar Foundation is the sole designated IOLTA recipient in the state. Overdraft notifications go to the Office of General Counsel, and all eligible funds must be held at an approved participating financial institution.

Additional context: Alaska's trust accounting requirements sit in RPC 1.15(f)–(g), with the IOLTA program established by Alaska Bar Rule 15.1. Participation is opt-out, interest is remitted quarterly to the Alaska Bar Foundation, and approved depositories must report trust account overdrafts to Bar Counsel. Records are kept for five years after representation ends.

Additional context: Arizona's IOLTA program is governed by both ER 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct and Rule 43 of the Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court. The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (azflse.org) runs the program, and the State Bar of Arizona actively monitors every overdraft notification it receives from banks.

Additional context: Arkansas made IOLTA mandatory in 1994 under Rule 1.15. The original Arkansas IOLTA Foundation merged into the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation (arkansasjustice.org) in 2014, which now administers the program and distributes interest to civil legal aid. Bank overdrafts on a trust account must be reported to the Executive Director of the Office of Professional Conduct within five banking days, and records are kept for five years after a matter closes.

Additional context: California has one of the most prescriptive IOLTA frameworks in the country. The State Bar requires a specific reconciliation format and a running balance on every ledger — and CTAP (the Client Trust Account Protection Program) runs random audits to enforce it.

Additional context: Colorado's trust accounting is governed by four interlocking rules — RPC 1.15A through 1.15D. COLTAF (the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation) administers the IOLTA program at coltaf.org, and overdraft notifications go to the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. The rules set a quarterly minimum for three-way reconciliation, though most Colorado firms reconcile monthly. The 7-year retention requirement is among the longest in the country.

Additional context: The Connecticut Bar Foundation IOLTA program (ctbarfdn.org/iolta) administers the state's program. Connecticut Rule 1.15 sets a quarterly minimum for reconciliation, though most firms run it monthly. The Statewide Grievance Committee receives overdraft notifications and conducts random audits of attorney trust accounts — making documentation discipline especially important. The 7-year retention requirement applies to every trust account record.

Additional context: Delaware's trust accounting is split across two rules — Rule 1.15 (Safekeeping Property) and Rule 1.15A (trust account overdraft notification). The Delaware Bar Foundation administers the IOLTA program on behalf of the Delaware Supreme Court, while the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection certifies eligible institutions and receives overdraft reports. Records are retained for five years after the representation ends.

Additional context: The DC Bar Foundation runs the IOLTA program in the District. DC has specific rules around running balances and monthly three-way reconciliation, and they're strictly enforced.

Additional context: Florida has some of the most prescriptive IOLTA requirements in the country — the Florida Bar specifies the exact reconciliation worksheet format you have to use. Monthly interest remittance and a 6-year retention requirement apply, and the Florida Bar Foundation actively monitors compliance.

Additional context: Georgia's IOLTA framework uses a dual-rule structure: Rule 1.15(I) covers the general duty to safeguard client property and Rule 1.15(II) covers trust account mechanics. The Georgia Bar Foundation (gabarfoundation.org) runs the IOLTA program and distributes interest to civil legal aid. PI firms handling large settlement disbursements get heightened scrutiny from the State Bar of Georgia.

Additional context: Hawaii layers three authorities: HRPC Rule 1.15 (safekeeping client funds), RSCH Rule 11 (the IOLTA mandate), and the Hawaiʻi Rules Governing Trust Accounting (HRGTA), which set the minimum records and the 6-year retention period. The Hawaii Justice Foundation (hawaiijustice.org), established in 1969, administers the program and distributes IOLTA interest to civil legal aid.

Additional context: Idaho governs trust accounting through both I.R.P.C. 1.15 and the Idaho Bar Commission Rules Section XIII (Rules 1303–1309), which cover account setup, eligible institutions, and overdraft notification. The Idaho Law Foundation administers the IOLTA program; approved banks must report trust account overdrafts to Bar Counsel under Rule 1307, and records are kept for five years.

Additional context: Illinois has some of the strictest IOLTA enforcement in the country. Overdraft notifications go straight to the ARDC, which can trigger disciplinary review. The 7-year retention requirement demands real recordkeeping systems.

Additional context: Indiana routes overdraft notifications to the Indiana Disciplinary Commission, which coordinates disciplinary review. The Indiana Bar Foundation runs the IOLTA program, maintains the approved-bank list, and does annual outreach to participating attorneys.

Additional context: Iowa requires 6 years of record retention and monthly three-way reconciliation. The Iowa Supreme Court receives overdraft notifications directly, and the Iowa State Bar Foundation handles IOLTA interest distribution.

Additional context: IOLTA participation in Kansas is voluntary — attorneys may decline, but anyone holding Kansas client funds must still maintain a trust account under KRPC 1.15(d)(3). The Kansas Bar Foundation administers the IOLTA program, overdrafts are reported to the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, and records are kept for five years after the matter ends.

Additional context: The Kentucky IOLTA Fund (kybar.org/iolta) administers the state's program under Kentucky SCR 3.130 (Rule 1.15). Overdraft notifications go to the Kentucky Bar Association, which oversees program compliance and distributes the interest to civil legal aid programs throughout the Commonwealth. Monthly three-way reconciliation and 5-year retention are required.

Additional context: The Louisiana Bar Foundation (raisingthebar.org) administers the state's IOLTA program. An April 2015 amendment to Louisiana RPC 1.15 set the quarterly reconciliation minimum — most firms reconcile monthly but the rule floor is quarterly. Overdraft notifications go to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. PI firms managing large settlement pools in Louisiana face particular scrutiny on disbursement documentation and per-matter ledger accuracy.

Additional context: Maine's program runs under Rule 1.15 and Maine Bar Rule 6, with interest paid to the Maine Justice Foundation (formerly the Maine Bar Foundation, justicemaine.org). The retention requirement is unusually long — records must be kept at least eight years after representation ends. The Board of Overseers of the Bar receives overdraft notifications and designates eligible institutions.

Additional context: Maryland routes overdraft notifications to the Attorney Grievance Commission, which has direct disciplinary authority. The Maryland Legal Services Corporation administers the IOLTA program and distributes interest to legal aid programs statewide. Maryland Rule 19-407 adds specific bank-agreement and record-format requirements on top of the base trust accounting rule.

Additional context: Massachusetts gives banks 7 business days to send overdraft notifications to Bar Counsel — track that deadline carefully. The IOLTA Committee of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation handles interest distributions for legal aid.

Additional context: Michigan's Attorney Grievance Commission receives overdraft notifications directly. The State Bar of Michigan IOLTA program distributes the interest to civil legal aid organizations statewide.

Additional context: The Minnesota Lawyer Trust Account Board (mnltab.org) administers the state's IOLTA program. Overdraft notifications go to the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, which has direct disciplinary authority. The program underwent a governance shift in July 2025. Minnesota requires monthly three-way reconciliation and 6-year retention of all trust records.

Additional context: Mississippi has had a mandatory IOLTA program since 2007, with interest paid to the Mississippi Bar Foundation. Rule 1.15 requires that complete trust account records be preserved for seven years after representation ends — two years longer than the ABA baseline — so PI firms managing large settlement disbursements have to keep rigorous client ledger records well past closing.

Additional context: Missouri Rule 4-1.15 governs IOLTA trust accounting. Since July 2022, the rule requires that the responsible attorney personally review the monthly three-way reconciliation — delegation to staff is insufficient. Overdraft notifications go to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, and MLTAF (Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation) administers the IOLTA program and collects quarterly interest remittances.

Additional context: Montana splits its trust accounting rules between RPC 1.15 (safekeeping property) and RPC 1.18 (mandatory IOLTA accounts and eligible institutions). The Montana Justice Foundation (mtjustice.org) — the charitable arm of the State Bar — administers the program, the Supreme Court's overdraft notification rule routes reports to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and records are retained for five years.

Additional context: Nebraska governs trust accounting under RPC § 3-501.15, with the IOLTA program established by Neb. Ct. R. § 3-903 and overdraft notification by § 3-904. IOLTA is opt-out in Nebraska. The Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation (NLTAF) administers the program and forwards interest to support Legal Aid of Nebraska; records are kept five years.

Additional context: The Nevada State Bar IOLTA program (nvbar.org/iolta) administers the state's program under Nevada RPC 1.15. Overdraft notifications go to the Office of Bar Counsel, which has direct disciplinary authority. Nevada requires monthly three-way reconciliation and 5-year retention of all trust account records.

Additional context: New Hampshire adopted the nation's second IOLTA program in 1982 under Supreme Court Rule 50, supplemented by RPC 1.15 and the annual compliance certification of Rule 50-A. Interest flows to the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, the Professional Conduct Committee receives overdraft notifications, and trust records must be kept for six years.

Additional context: New Jersey has one of the most rigorous IOLTA frameworks in the country. The Office of Attorney Ethics gets overdraft notifications inside a strict 5-business-day window and has broad disciplinary authority. The 7-year retention requirement under Court Rules applies to every trust record — there's no short-cut.

Additional context: New Mexico uses a three-rule structure: Rule 16-115 NMRA (safekeeping client property), Rule 17-204 NMRA (Disciplinary Board recordkeeping and overdraft notification), and Rule 24-109 NMRA (IOLTA-specific requirements). The State Bar of New Mexico administers the program, overdraft reports go to the Disciplinary Board, and records are kept for five years.

Additional context: New York is one of the most compliance-intensive IOLTA jurisdictions in the country. 22 NYCRR Part 1300 sets specific format requirements for your records. Running balances on every ledger and 7-year retention are strictly enforced, and PI firms with large case inventories face real compliance complexity here.

Additional context: North Carolina uses a three-rule framework — Rules 1.15-1, 1.15-2, and 1.15-3 — that together govern trust account structure, recordkeeping, and the approved depository list. The NC IOLTA program (nciolta.org) maintains the list of approved depositories and distributes interest to civil legal aid. The minimum reconciliation cadence is quarterly, though most NC firms reconcile monthly.

Additional context: North Dakota governs trust accounting under NDRPC 1.15, with the IOLTA program established by Supreme Court Administrative Rule 24 and administered through the IOLTA Committee of the North Dakota Bar Foundation. Approved depositories must report trust account overdrafts to the Disciplinary Board of the ND Supreme Court, and records must be preserved for six years.

Additional context: Ohio has dual overdraft notification — both the Ohio IOLTA Fund and the Supreme Court have to be notified inside 5 days. The 7-year retention requirement applies to every trust record, and the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation distributes the IOLTA interest.

Additional context: The Oklahoma Bar Foundation IOLTA program (oklahomabarfoundation.org) administers the state's program under Oklahoma RPC 1.15. Overdraft notifications go to the Oklahoma Bar Association, which has direct disciplinary authority. Monthly three-way reconciliation and 5-year retention of all trust records are required.

Additional context: Oregon's trust accounting is governed by RPC 1.15-1 and ORS 9.685, which together set comprehensive requirements for account management, reconciliation, and overdraft notification. The Oregon State Bar IOLTA program (osbar.org/iolta) administers the program. Monthly three-way reconciliation and 6-year record retention are required, and overdraft notifications go directly to the Oregon State Bar.

Additional context: Pennsylvania's Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court receives overdraft notifications inside a strict 5-day window. The Pennsylvania IOLTA Board (paiolta.org) handles interest distributions, and PA Rule 1.15 has specific formatting and documentation requirements.

Additional context: Rhode Island pairs Rule 1.15 with Supreme Court Rules Article IV, Rule 2 (trust account overdraft notification), which routes bank overdraft reports to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The Rhode Island Bar Foundation administers the IOLTA program, and Rule 1.15 requires complete trust records be kept for seven years — stricter than the ABA five-year baseline.

Additional context: The South Carolina Bar Foundation IOLTA program (scbarfoundation.org) administers the state's program and distributes interest to civil legal aid. Overdraft notifications go to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which has direct authority to act on them. The 6-year retention requirement is a year longer than the standard 5-year minimum used in many states.

Additional context: South Dakota Rule 1.15 requires complete trust account records to be preserved for five years after the representation ends. The South Dakota Bar Foundation administers the IOLTA program and distributes interest to legal aid statewide, while the State Bar of South Dakota receives overdraft notifications and runs compliance oversight.

Additional context: The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility receives overdraft notifications and has direct disciplinary authority. The Tennessee Bar Foundation administers the IOLTA program and distributes interest to civil legal aid statewide. PI firms in Tennessee have to maintain a running balance on every client ledger entry — not just at month-end.

Additional context: Texas is one of the few states that governs trust accounting under Disciplinary Rule 1.14 rather than the Rule 1.15 used by most states. The Texas Access to Justice Foundation runs the IOLTA program and receives overdraft notifications. PI firms managing big case inventories in Texas face especially complex multi-party disbursement scenarios.

Additional context: Utah governs trust accounting through RPC 1.15 and Supreme Court Rule of Professional Practice 14-1001, which sets the mandatory IOLTA structure. The Utah Bar Foundation (utahbarfoundation.org) administers the program with interest remitted monthly, overdraft reports go to the Office of Professional Conduct, and records are kept for five years.

Additional context: Vermont splits its safekeeping rules across V.R.P.C. 1.15 (general trust accounting), 1.15A (mandatory IOLTA), and 1.15B (eligible institutions and overdraft notification), with reports routed to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The Vermont Bar Foundation (vtbarfoundation.org) administers the program, and records must be preserved for six years after representation ends.

Additional context: Virginia trust accounting is governed by Rule 1.15 of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct. The Legal Services Corporation of Virginia IOLTA program (vaiolta.org) administers interest distributions to civil legal aid. The Virginia State Bar receives overdraft notifications from approved financial institutions and actively investigates every notification it receives.

Additional context: Washington uses a dual-rule structure — RPC 1.15A governs general trust account conduct and RPC 1.15B governs the IOLTA-specific mechanics — supplemented by ELC 15.4, which establishes the overdraft notification requirement and the Approved Eligible Institutions list. The 7-year retention requirement is among the longest in the West, and the Legal Foundation of Washington (legalfoundation.org) handles IOLTA interest distributions.

Additional context: West Virginia pairs RPC 1.15 with State Bar Administrative Rule 10, which establishes the IOLTA program and the depository requirements. The West Virginia State Bar administers the fund, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (through the Lawyer Disciplinary Board) handles overdraft reports and enforcement, and records are kept five years after a matter closes.

Additional context: Wisconsin trust accounting is governed by SCR 20:1.15, with electronic transaction requirements detailed in SCR 20:1.15-1 and SCR 20:1.15-2, updated in July 2023. The mandatory record retention period is 6 years. WisTAF (the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation) administers the IOLTA program and distributes interest to civil legal aid statewide.

Additional context: Wyoming established its IOLTA program in 1989 under WRPC 1.15, with the Wyoming State Bar administering the fund and distributing interest to civil legal aid statewide. IOLTA is opt-out — lawyers may elect not to participate — but all client funds must still be held in a trust account, with records preserved for five years.