Kentucky Bar Association Ethics Opinions
Free plain-English summaries of legal ethics opinions issued by the Kentucky Bar Association, with full citations and source links on every page.
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Can lawyers who take over a deceased attorney's practice keep her name in the firm name if they were never her partners?
No. The committee concluded that a firm may keep a deceased lawyer's name only in a continuing line of succession from a true partnership; lawyers who merely succeed to the practice without ever havin…
Can a lawyer who is a county judge write a newspaper series on general probate and estate law?
Yes. The committee concluded a lawyer-judge may write general newspaper articles on probate and estate law if done in good taste and not to advertise himself, but may not use the articles to give advi…
Can a Kentucky lawyer also run a real estate business alongside the practice of law?
Yes, with limitations. The committee concluded a lawyer may operate a separate real estate business if it is not the practice of law, is run consistently with the Canons, is not used to advertise or s…
Can a Kentucky lawyer send other lawyers a notice that he concentrates in a particular branch of law?
Qualified yes. The committee concluded a lawyer may distribute to other lawyers and publish in legal journals a dignified announcement of his availability as a consultant or associate in a branch of l…
Can lawyers who share an office but are not true partners adopt a single firm name in Kentucky?
No. The committee concluded that lawyers whose relationship is something less than a true partnership may not adopt a firm name, because a firm name implies a partnership (shared responsibility and li…
Can a lawyer appear on a real-estate firm's sponsored radio program to discuss legal aspects of real estate?
Yes, within limits. The committee concluded a lawyer may appear on a commercially sponsored radio program discussing real estate law if several attorneys appear (so no one is endorsed), none is identi…
Can a lawyer with a J.D. degree use the title 'Doctor' on business cards and letterhead?
No. The committee concluded a lawyer may not use 'Doctor' or 'Dr.' before his name on cards or letterhead, treating it as approaching advertising or solicitation, though placing the initials 'JD' afte…
Can a lawyer mail tax information worksheets to clients to help them prepare their income tax returns?
Yes, but only to existing clients. The committee concluded an attorney may mail income-tax information worksheets to people with whom he already has an attorney-client relationship; sending them to an…
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Legal ethics opinions from the Kentucky Bar Association interpret the rules of professional conduct for working lawyers, in response to inquiries from members and committees. They are not binding like court discipline decisions, but courts and discipline boards treat formal opinions as substantial guidance on how the rules apply. Every opinion above has a plain-English question and short answer, plus a link to the original source on the bar's site.