Q&As

Can I charge a client for retrieving and or returning their file?

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Published by a ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ Practice Compliance expert
Published on: 15 November 2019

This Q&A deals with the common question: can I charge a client for retrieving and/or returning their file? The answer may well depend on why the client is making the request.

There do not appear to be any SRA requirements, but the Law Society recommends you should advise the client of costs related to:

  1. •

    storage

  2. •

    retrieval

  3. •

    additional copies

Why does the client want the file?

The Law Society has produced sample client care letter wording:

If we take papers or documents out of storage in relation to continuing or new instructions to act for you, we will not normally charge for such retrieval.

However we may charge you both for:

  1. •

    time spent producing stored papers that are requested

  2. •

    reading, correspondence or other work necessary to comply with your instructions in relation to the retrieved papers

This wording does not appear to

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United Kingdom

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