• ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM
  Click this link to Register and pay your yearly bill online.

• The Supreme Judicial Court has amended rule 4:02 to require annual registration of in-house counsel. Information about the rule change is available at the Board of Bar Overseers' website.
  Click here for answers to frequently asked questions and registration forms for in-house counsel.

• IOLTA registration instructions and rule 1.15 announcement effective July 1, 2004.

• BBO registration fees and instructions revised July 30, 2007.

• Click here to print replacement registration statement and bill.

• SJC enacts rule requiring active attorneys to disclose whether or not they have professional liability insurance coverage.

The Registration Department was established in 1974 as the administrative division responsible for attorney compliance with Rule 4:02 and Rule 4:03, which govern the annual registration of every attorney admitted to, or engaging in, the practice of law in this Commonwealth.

 

This system can generate a registration statement that can be completed and returned to the Board of Bar Overseers with the required registration fee. Please enter the BBO number of the attorney for whom you want to print the statement below. Click the button that says "Print the Registration Form."

PLEASE NOTE: If you print out your new quarterly bill shortly before it is mailed to you, you may still receive that bill and its enclosures by mail. Do not return this second registration statement, as long as you have filled out and returned your printout.

Attorney's 6-digit BBO#:

We offer electronic wire transfer as an alternative form of payment to the Massachusetts registered attorneys who are not residing in the United States and cannot conveniently pay by US$ check or money order.

Listed below is the necessary information for you to wire in your registration payment, if you choose to do so. There are two ways in which to wire your funds. The initiating bank will tell you which format is needed.

With Swift Number:

SWIFT:	MELNUS3P
Incoming Bank:	Mellon Bank, NA
For Credit:	Mellon Trust of New England, N.A.
Account Number:	011001234
For Further Credit:	Board of Bar Overseers
Account Number:	20-264-9

Without Swift Number:

Bank Name:	Mellon Trust of New England, N.A.
Routing Number:	011001234
Account Number:	20-264-9
Reference Name:	Peter Pappas 617-722-7509

Please be advised that you are required to return the registration statement (not a photocopy or a fax) to the Registration Department. Please make sure that your name is referenced on the wire so we can record your registration payment accordingly, and, your e-mail address is correctly shown on your registration statement.

If you have any questions, please contact the Registration Department at 617-728-8800.

You can obtain a replacement bar card by writing or faxing to the Board of Bar Overseers, 99 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, Attention: Registration, 617-482-8000.

There is a $10.00 charge for each replacement bar card. Payment may be made by check or money order, payable to the Board of Bar Overseers.

Your annual registration date is based on the billing cycle that was assigned when you initially registered with the Board of Bar Overseers.

If you registered as an Active attorney, you received a bar card that displays the expiration date of your annual registration. The expiration date is the date by which you are due to register. Your annual registration statement will be mailed on or before that expiration date. Please note that your card is valid for an additional forty-five days beyond the expiration date printed on it.

Any attorney registered with the Board of Bar Overseers can access the Registration database to determine their annual billing cycle.

If you need further assistance, you may contact the Registration Department at 617-728-8800.

When you initially registered with the Board of Bar Overseers you were assigned a unique six-digit identifying number.

If you registered as an Active attorney, you received a bar card that displays your BBO number.

If you registered with Inactive, Retired, Judicial, Clerk or Foreign Legal Consultant status, or cannot recall your BBO number, you may contact the Registration Department for assistance at 617-728-8800.

If you are a new attorney, you will not be assigned a BBO number until you complete the registration process.

Detailed information about procedures can be obtained from Supreme Judicial Court Clerk's Office at 617-557-1050 or the Board of Bar Examiners at 617-482-4466. Admissions are governed by rule 3:01.

Yes, although you may not be allowed to file an appearance in court, as courts require that your BBO registration number be added to a notice of appearance and all other pleadings filed. You should bear in mind, however, that you are required to register with the Board of Bar Overseers within ninety days after being sworn in.

Rule 4:02(3) Failure to File. Any attorney who fails to file the statement or any supplement thereto in accordance with the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) shall be subject to suspension in accordance with the procedures set forth in Rule 4:03.

Rule 4:03(3) Any attorney suspended under the provisions of subsection (2) shall become subject to the provisions of Rule 4:01, Section 17(4), upon entry of the suspension order, and if not reinstated within thirty days after entry shall become subject to the other provision of said Section 17. As a condition precedent to reinstatement, such attorney shall file with the Board an affidavit stating the extent to which he or she has complied with applicable provisions of Rule 4:01, Section 17, and shall pay all arrears due from the date of the last payment to the date of his or her request for reinstatement, including the late assessment of fifty dollars required under subsection (2) above, and shall also pay to the Board a penalty of one hundred dollars.

Rule 4:01, Section 17(4) The Board shall promptly transmit a copy of the order of temporary suspension, suspension, disbarment, resignation, or transfer to disability inactive status to the clerk of each court in the Commonwealth, state or federal, in which it has reason to believe the disciplined lawyer has been engaged in practice.

Rule 4:03

Order Regarding Annual Fees

ORDERED: Effective September 1, 2006, the annual fee required under Rule 4:03 is established at the following rates for attorneys engaging in the practice of law in the Commonwealth: $220.00 for those admitted to the bar for five or fewer years as of September 1, 2006; $20.00 for those admitted to the bar for more than fifty years as of such date, and $300.00 for all other active attorneys. For each attorney who chooses inactive status, the annual fee shall be one-half of the fee he or she would pay if active. There shall be no fee for attorneys who retire from the practice of law, sitting judges, clerk-magistrates, as defined in Canon 1 of Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:12, and Federal clerks of court, chief deputy clerks and deputy clerks.

 

The initial registration fee for new attorneys is as follows:

Active attorneys: $165.00

Inactive attorneys: $82.50

This fee will cover registration until the beginning of the billing cycle to which you are assigned, at which time you will be billed either $220.00 or $110,00, depending upon whether you register as active or inactive. Please see the chart below to determine your billing cycle.

 

PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER ON A TIMELY BASIS: If you fail to register or pay the required fee within the 90 day period, a non-waivable late assessment of $50.00 will be added to your account. Continued failure to register or pay will lead to suspension of your right to practice law in this Commonwealth.

OTHER FEES:

Reinstatement fee (after administrative suspension): $100.00

Returned Check Charge $ 25.00

Attorneys eligible to practice law in Massachusetts may choose one of six statuses: Active, Inactive, Retired, Clerk, Judicial, or Pro Bono.

Attorneys choosing "Active" status are allowed to practice law within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They will be issued bar cards.

Attorneys choosing "Inactive", "Retired", "Clerk" , "Judicial" or "Foreign Legal Consultant" status are not allowed to practice law within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They will not be issued bar cards.

Attorneys choosing “Probono Retired" or “Probono Inactive” status are allowed to provide pro bono publico legal services under the auspices of approved legal service organizations, but are not allowed to perform legal services for any other person or entity. They will be issued bar cards. For additional information on pro bono status, please go to the following link: link to 4:02 (8)(a)

If you are changing to a status other than "active," and you are considering applying for reciprocal admission in another jurisdiction, the Board recommends that you contact the other jurisdiction before requesting the status change. The jurisdiction to which you are applying may require that you be registered under active status for a set period in another jurisdiction before approving your request.

If you desire to change your status or have questions regarding a specific status, please write or fax the Board of Bar Overseers, 99 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110 ; Fax: 617-482-8000.

Please include your full name, Board of Bar Overseers number, and daytime phone number.

2: DETAILS

Registration statuses are defined in rules 4:02, 4:03 and 3:12 of the Massachusetts Rules of Court.

Rule 4:02

(4) Inactive Status.

(a) Any attorney may advise the Board in writing that he or she desires to assume inactive status and to discontinue the practice of law in this Commonwealth. Upon the filing of such notice, the attorney shall no longer be eligible to practice law in this Commonwealth but shall continue to file annual registration statements for as long as he or she remains on inactive status. The attorney, however, shall pay the fee imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03 for inactive attorneys.

(b) Upon the filing of a notice that he or she wishes to assume inactive status, an attorney shall be removed from the rolls of those classified as active until and unless he or she requests reinstatement to the active rolls and pays for the year of reinstatement the fee imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03 for active attorneys.

(5) Retirement.

(a) Any attorney may advise the Board in writing that he or she desires to retire from the bar and to discontinue the practice of law in this Commonwealth. Upon the filing of such notice, the attorney shall no longer be eligible to practice law in this Commonwealth but shall continue to file registration statements for three years thereafter in order that he or she can be located in the event complaints are made about his or her conduct while he or she was engaged in practice in this Commonwealth. The attorney, however, will be relieved from the payment of the fees imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03.

(b) Upon the filing of a notice that he or she wishes to retire from the bar, an attorney shall be removed from the rolls of those classified as active until and unless he or she requests reinstatement to the active rolls and pays the fee imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03 for active attorneys for each of the years during which he or she was retired from the bar.

(6) Judicial Status.

(a) Any attorney who sits as a judge of any state or Federal court may advise the Board in writing that he or she is a sitting judge and desires to discontinue the practice of law in this Commonwealth. Upon the filing of such a notice, the attorney will be placed on judicial status and will be relieved from the payment of the fees imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03.

(b) Upon the filing of a notice that he or she has left the bench and wishes to be reinstated to the active roll and upon payment for the year of reinstatement of the fee imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03 for active attorneys, an attorney on judicial status shall be so reinstated.

(7) Clerk Status.

(a) Any "clerk-magistrate," as defined in Canon 1 of Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:12, and any Federal clerk of court, chief deputy clerk and deputy clerk may advise the Board in writing that he or she is a clerk. Upon the filing of such a notice, the attorney will be placed on clerk status and will be relieved from the payment of the fees imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03.

(b) Upon the filing of a notice that he or she is no longer a clerk and wishes to be reinstated to the active rolls and upon payment for the year of reinstatement of the fee imposed pursuant to Rule 4:03 for active attorneys, an attorney on clerk status shall be so reinstated.

 (8) Pro Bono Status.

(a) Any attorney admitted to the practice of law in the Commonwealth who has assumed inactive status in accordance with Rule 4:02(4) but who wishes to provide pro bono publico legal services without compensation or expectation of compensation as described in Rule 6.1 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct (S.J.C. Rule 3:07) may advise the Board by filing an appropriate annual registration statement that he or she will limit his or her legal practice to providing pro bono publico legal services under the auspices of an approved legal services organization, as defined below.  The annual registration statement shall indicate whether the attorney is, or was at the time he or she assumed inactive status, the subject of any pending grievance or disciplinary charge and shall be signed by an authorized representative of the approved legal services organization under whose auspices the attorney will provide services. Unless the Board of Bar Overseers objects, the attorney may begin providing pro bono services after filing such a statement.

(b) Any attorney admitted to the practice of law in the Commonwealth who has retired from the bar and discontinued the practice of law in this Commonwealth in accordance with Rule 4:02(5) may advise the Board by filing an appropriate annual registration statement that he or she will limit his or her legal practice to providing pro bono publico legal services without compensation or expectation of compensation as described in Rule 6.1 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct (S.J.C. Rule 3:07) under the auspices of an approved legal services organization, as defined below.  The annual registration statement shall indicate whether the attorney is, or was at the time he or she retired, the subject of any pending grievance or disciplinary charge and shall be signed by an authorized representative of an approved legal services organization under whose auspices the attorney will provide services.  Unless the Board of Bar Overseers objects, the attorney may begin providing pro bono services after filing such a statement.

(c) For purposes of this Rule, an approved legal services organization shall include a pro bono publico legal services program sponsored by a court-annexed program, a bar association, a Massachusetts law school, or a not-for-profit organization that provides legal services to persons of limited means and that receives funding from the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, the Boston Bar Foundation, or the Women's Bar Foundation, and in addition, shall include any not-for-profit legal services organization designated as an approved legal services organization after petition to the Supreme Judicial Court.
 

The word "Clerk-Magistrate" in this Code, unless otherwise expressly provided, shall mean anyone serving in the position of Clerk-Magistrate, Clerk, Register, Recorder, Assistant Clerk-Magistrate, Assistant Clerk, Assistant Register, or Deputy Recorder, in the Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, or a Department of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth, whether elected or appointed, and whether serving in a permanent or temporary capacity. The words "elected Clerk-Magistrate" shall also include a person who is appointed to complete the term of an elected Clerk-Magistrate. The word "court" in this Code shall mean the Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, a particular division of a Department of the Trial Court, or a particular Department of the Trial Court if the Department does not have divisions. (Adopted February 9, 1990, effective April 1, 1990.)

Please be advised that law clerks, career law clerks and judicial law clerks are not exempt from the fees imposed by Rule 4:03. In order to file under judicial status, you must be a judge of a court, not of an agency.

You may determine your present balance by calling the Registration Department at 617-728-8800.

 

To obtain a Certificate of Admission and Good Standing, please contact the Supreme Judicial Court Clerk's Office at http://www.sjccountyclerk.com/certofad.html.

Any attorney who wishes to provide pro bono legal services under the auspices of an approved legal services organization may register for inactive pro bono status or retirement pro bono status. Attorneys choosing “Probono Retired or “Probono Inactive” status are not allowed to perform legal services for any person or entity other than the approved legal services organization that signed their registration form. Pro bono inactive attorneys will still be required to pay the annual registration fee paid by attorneys registered under inactive status. Specific requirements for registering under these statuses, as well as the registration forms, can be found at the following link: link to 4:02 (8)(a)

You can apply for Pro Bono status by using either
the Inactive Attorney Pro Bono Status Application Form
 or the Retired Attorney Pro-Bono Status Application Form.

If you have questions about registering under pro bono status, contact:

   Michael Fredrickson, General Counsel
   Board of Bar Overseers
   617-728-8700

 

Any attorney who handles a client's funds which are more than nominal in amount or are held for more than a short period of time must establish an interest-bearing client funds account (or subaccount) for each client. The registration of any attorney who fails to complete the IOLTA Compliance information will be rejected. For further information on IOLTA, please contact the IOLTA Committee at 617-723-9093.

 

You can print out the IOLTA update form clicking here. Fill it out, sign it and mail it to:

Board of Bar Overseers
Registration Department
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110

 

You can print out the professional liability insurance update form clicking here. Fill it out, sign it and mail it to:

Board of Bar Overseers
Registration Department
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110

In order to register a name change you must: 1) Request a name change affidavit from the Supreme Judicial Court Clerk’s Office; 2) Complete the affidavit and attach a copy of the marriage certificate or any court documents verifying the change; and 3) Send the affidavit to the Supreme Judicial Court Clerk's office, which will notify the Board of Bar Overseers of the change. (Please note the Board of Bar Overseers will not process a name change until notified by the Supreme Judicial Court Clerk's office.) The telephone number of the Clerk's Office is (617) 557-1050 or you may use the Clerk’s Office’s website at www.sjccountyclerk.com to obtain the form.

The Office of Bar Counsel will answer ethical questions Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Call 617-728-8750.

In order to insure the safety and privacy of attorneys licensed to practice in this Commonwealth, the residential address and phone number are not released to the public.

This information is not gathered by the Board of Bar Overseers. You may be able to ascertain this information by contacting the attorney directly at her or his place of business or by referring to one of the following directories: