OHBPC October 8, 2004

Can a lawyer take a mortgage on a client's home to secure payment of a legal fee?

Short answer: The opinion concluded that a lawyer may take a mortgage on a client's home to secure a legal fee as a business transaction under DR 5-104(A), requiring full disclosure and client consent; if the home is the subject of the litigation, the mortgage is also a proprietary interest under DR 5-103(A) and must be a legally permissible lien. The Board withdrew this opinion in 2025.

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This page answers the general question as of 2004. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, with citations.

Disclaimer: Advisory only. Not binding precedent.

About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official ethics opinion. The original opinion (linked on this page as a PDF) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

View original ethics opinion (PDF)

Currency note

The Board withdrew this opinion on February 7, 2025 in Advisory Opinion 2025-02; it is retained here for research only and is not current guidance. The opinion was issued in 2004, before Ohio's adoption of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct (effective February 1, 2007), and interprets former DR 5-104(A) and DR 5-103(A). The current analogue is Ohio Prof. Cond. R. 1.8. Treat this page as historical context. Verify against current rules and the superseding opinion before relying on any specific requirement mentioned here.

Plain-English summary

The Board addressed whether an attorney may acquire a mortgage on a client's home to secure payment of a legal fee. It concluded that taking such a mortgage is a business transaction governed by DR 5-104(A), so an attorney may do it, but only with full disclosure by the attorney and consent by the client. The Board added that if the attorney acquires the mortgage, any interest or charges on it must be disclosed to and consented to by the client and must comply with applicable state and federal law.

The Board drew a second line for cases where the home itself is at stake. When the home is the subject matter of the litigation or related to the cause of action, the mortgage is not only a business transaction but also a proprietary interest subject to DR 5-103(A). In that situation the attorney may take the mortgage only if it is a legally permissible lien under DR 5-103(A) and there is full disclosure and client consent under DR 5-104(A). The Board noted that attorneys are not encouraged to secure fees this way, observing that it does not foster the attorney-client relationship and may lead to disputes affecting the client's ability to keep a roof overhead.

Common questions

Q: Can a lawyer secure an unpaid fee with a mortgage on the client's house?

A: Yes, with safeguards. The opinion concluded this is a DR 5-104(A) business transaction permitted only with full disclosure and client consent. The Board withdrew the opinion in 2025.

Q: Does it matter if the house is what the lawsuit is about?

A: Yes. Per the opinion, if the home is the subject of or related to the litigation, the mortgage is also a proprietary interest under DR 5-103(A) and must be a legally permissible lien, in addition to the DR 5-104(A) disclosure and consent.

Q: What about interest and fees on the mortgage?

A: The opinion concluded any interest or charges must be disclosed to and consented to by the client and must comply with applicable state and federal law.

Background and rules framework

The opinion interprets former Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility DR 5-104(A) (business transactions with a client require full disclosure and consent) and DR 5-103(A) (a lawyer shall not acquire a proprietary interest in the cause of action or subject of litigation, except for a permissible lien or a reasonable contingent fee). The current analogue is Ohio Prof. Cond. R. 1.8 (Model Rule 1.8), including R. 1.8(a) on business transactions and R. 1.8(i) on proprietary interests. The Board withdrew the opinion in Adv. Op. 2025-02.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

Former Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility DR 5-104(A), DR 5-103(A)
Current analogue: Ohio Prof. Cond. R. 1.8 (Model Rule 1.8)

Source

Landing page: https://ohioadvop.org/advisory-opinion-index/
Original PDF: https://www.ohioadvop.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Op-04-008.pdf

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

The Supreme Court of Ohio
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON GRIEVANCES AND DISCIPLINE
65 SOUTH FRONT STREET, 5TH FLOOR, COLUMBUS, OH 43215-3431
(614) 387-9370 (888) 664-8345 FAX: (614) 387-9379
www.sconet.state.oh.us

                                   OFFICE OF SECRETARY


                          OPINION 2004-8
                        Issued October 8, 2004
                    Withdrawn by Adv. Op. 2025-02

[CPR Opinion-provides advice under the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility
which is superseded by the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, eff. 2/1/2007.]

SYLLABUS: Acquiring a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee is a
business transaction governed by DR 5-104(A). Thus, an attorney may acquire a
mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee; however, full disclosure by the
attorney and consent by the client is required by DR 5-104(A).

Acquiring a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee when the home is
the subject matter of litigation or related to the cause of action is not only a
business transaction but also is a proprietary interest subject to DR 5-103(A).
Thus, an attorney may acquire a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee
when the home is the subject of litigation or related to the subject of the
representation, if the attorney is asserting a legally permissible lien as required
by DR 5-103(A) and if there is full disclosure by the attorney and client consent as
required by DR 5-104(A).

If an attorney acquires a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee, any
interest or charges on the mortgage must be disclosed to and consented to by the
client and must comply with any applicable state or federal law.

Attorneys are not encouraged to secure legal fees with a mortgage on a client’s
property. Acquiring a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee does not
foster the attorney-client relationship and may evolve into legal disputes with the
client that may affect a client’s ability to maintain a roof overhead.

OPINION: This opinion addresses whether an attorney may acquire a mortgage
on a client’s home to secure a legal fee.

  Is it proper for an attorney to acquire a mortgage on a client’s home
  to secure a legal fee?

A mortgage is “[a] lien against property that is granted to secure an obligation
(such as a debt) and that is extinguished upon payment or performance according
to stipulated terms.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1030 (8th ed. 2004). A mortgage is
“[a] conveyance of title to property that is given as security for the payment of a
debt or the performance of a duty and that will become void upon payment or
performance according to the stipulated terms.” Id.

Op. 2004-8 2

Is it ethical or unethical for an attorney to acquire a mortgage on a client’s home
to secure a legal fee? No doubt, this has been an area of ethical uncertainty for
Ohio attorneys.

Opinions from other states and the American Bar Association

The issue of whether it is ethical for an attorney to acquire a mortgage on a
client’s home to secure a legal fee has been addressed by ethics committees
advising upon rules based upon the ABA Model Code of Professional
Responsibility and committees advising upon rules based on the ABA Model
Rules of Professional Conduct. The predominant view in both code states and
rules states is that it is ethical, although this view is not uniform.

   1. Opinions interpreting rules based upon the ABA Model Code of
   Professional Responsibility

Some states, advise that an attorney may take a mortgage on a client’s home to
secure payment of fees. See e.g., Massachusetts Bar Assn., Op. 81-7 (1981);
Oklahoma Bar Assn., Op. 297 (1980); Bar of City of New York, Op. 88-7 (1988);
Vermont Bar Assn., Op. 87-13 (undated). In domestic relations matter, the
taking of a mortgage as security for legal fees sometimes is viewed as proper and
sometimes not. See e.g., State Bar of Georgia, Op. 86-7 (advising that a security
interest in marital property to secure fees in a domestic relations case is ethical);
Massachusetts Bar Assn., Op. 91-1 (1991) (advising that in a divorce proceeding, a
promissory note secured by a mortgage on a marital home is considered
improper, but if the proceeding is complete, the lawyer may take assignment of a
promissory note if certain conditions are met); Virginia State Bar, Op. 1653
(1995) (advising that a lawyer may not enter an agreement assigning a share of a
divorce client’s profits from the sale of the marital residence to secure payment of
the lawyer’s fee, but when the decree is final such agreement may be proper if
certain conditions are met).

   2. Opinions interpreting rules based upon the ABA Model Rules of
   Professional Conduct

Some states advise it is proper for an attorney to obtain a mortgage on a client’s
property to secure payment of fee. See e.g., State Bar of Michigan, Op. RI 40
(1989); Maine Bd. of Overseers of the Bar, Op. 144 (1994)(advising as to a
mortgage on property unrelated to litigation). Some states advise that the taking
of a mortgage is proper when the property the mortgage secures is the subject of
litigation. See e.g., Connecticut Bar Assn., Op. 97-4 (1997). As to divorce actions,
there is conflicting advice. See e.g., Maine Bd. of Overseers of the Bar, Op. 97
(1989) (advising that the taking of mortgage on the marital property is
improper); Maine Bd. of Overseers of the Bar, Op. 117 (1991) (advising that after a
divorce judgment is final, the taking of a mortgage on marital property may or
may not be appropriate depending upon the factual circumstances); South
Carolina Bar, Op. 96-25 (1996) (advising that a lawyer may not take a security
interest in property that is the subject of matter of domestic litigation) Cf.

Op. 2004-8 3

Connecticut Bar Assn., Op. 87-3 (1987) (advising that the taking of a mortgage on
a client’s marital home as security for legal fees is proper.)

In Formal Opinion 02-427, the American Bar Association, interpreting the ABA
Model Rules of Professional Conduct, advises that a contractual security interest
in a client’s property to secure payment of fees is proper.

  A lawyer who acquires a contractual security interest in a client’s
  property to secure payment of fees earned or to be earned must
  comply with Model Rule 1.8(a). A lawyer may acquire such a
  security interest in the subject matter of litigation in which the
  lawyer represents the client; however, the acquisition of such a
  security interest must be authorized by law as required by Model
  Rule 1.8(i).

ABA, Formal Opinion 02-427 (2002).

Ohio Advisory Opinions

Over twenty years ago an ethics committee of the Bar Association of Greater
Cleveland advised that an attorney may secure payment of a legal fee by
obtaining from the client a mortgage on real property, but the committee
discouraged attorneys from so doing.

  An attorney may secure payment of his fee by obtaining from the
  client a mortgage on real property which is the subject matter of
  litigation which he is conducting for the client. However, such
  method of securing payment should be avoided, if at all possible,
  because it creates the potential for possible claims of ethical
  violations. In addition, the attorney must disclose to the court the
  existence of his lien.

Bar Assn. Greater Cleveland, Op. 151 (1983).

The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline is addressing the
issue for the first time. The Board must consider whether the taking of a
mortgage to secure legal fees is a proprietary interest governed by DR 5-103(A), a
property interest governed by DR 5-101(A)(1), a business transaction governed by
DR 5-104(A), or a fee agreement governed by DR 2-106?

Is the taking a mortgage on a client’s home to secure legal fees
constitute a business transaction?

It is this board’s view that DR 5-104(A) governs the issue presented. A
transaction with a client to secure a fee constitutes a business transaction.

This view is consistent with the approach taken by the ABA Standing Committee
on Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Formal Op. 02-427 (2002). “A

Op. 2004-8 4

lawyer who acquires a contractual security interest in a client’s property to secure
payment of fees earned or to be earned must comply with Model Rule 1.8(a) [the
rule governing business transactions with clients.]

This view is also consistent with the commentary to ABA Model Rule 1.8(i):
“When a lawyer acquires by contract a security interest in property other than
that recovered through the lawyer’s efforts in the litigation, such an acquisition is
a business or financial transaction with a client and is governed by the
requirements of paragraph (a) [the rules governing business transactions with
clients].

Under Ohio’s DR 5-104(A), an attorney may not enter a business transaction with
a client if they have differing interests to the client unless the client gives consent
after full disclosure.

   DR 5-104 (A) A lawyer shall not enter into a business transaction
   with a client if they have differing interests therein and if the client
   expects the lawyer to exercise his [her] professional judgment
   therein for the protection of the client, unless the client has
   consented after full disclosure.

Thus, the acquiring of a mortgage to secure legal fees is a business transaction
with a client, requiring client consent after full disclosure by the attorney.

Is the taking of a mortgage on a client’s home to secure legal fees when
the property is the subject matter of litigation (or related to the cause of
action) a proprietary interest?

It is the Board’s view that when an attorney acquires a mortgage on a client’s
home to secure a legal fee and the home is the subject of litigation or related to
the cause of action, the attorney is not only entering a business transaction with a
client but also is acquiring a proprietary interest subject to DR 5-103(A). As an
example, the taking of a mortgage on a client’s home in a domestic relations
matter is the acquiring of a proprietary interest.

Under DR 5-103(A), an attorney may not acquire a proprietary interest in the
cause of action or subject matter of litigation, unless he or she meets one of two
narrow exceptions—a lien granted by law or a contingent fee.

   DR-5-103 (A) A lawyer shall not acquire a proprietary interest in
   the cause of action or subject matter of litigation the lawyer is
   conducting for a client, except that a lawyer may:

          (1) Acquire a lien granted by law to secure the lawyer’s fee or
              expenses.

          (2) Contract with a client for a reasonable contingent fee in a
              civil case.

Op. 2004-8 5

The assertion of a legally permissible lien is ethical under the Ohio Code of
Professional Responsibility. Ethical Consideration 5-7 guides that “it is not
improper for a lawyer to protect his right to collect a fee for his services by the
assertion of legally permissible liens, even though by doing so he may acquire an
interest in the outcome of litigation.

When the taking of a mortgage to secure legal fees is the assertion of a legally
permissible lien, the DR 5-103(A)(1) exception is met.

Is the acquisition of a mortgage to secure legal fees a property interest?

Under DR 5-101(A)(1), an attorney with a property interest that would or might
affect the lawyer’s independent professional judgment may not represent a client
unless the client gives consent after full disclosure.

  DR 5-101 (A)(1) Except with the consent of the client after full
  disclosure, a lawyer shall not accept employment if the exercise of
  professional judgment on behalf of the client will be or reasonably
  may be affected by the lawyer’s financial, business, property, or
  personal interests.

Having determined that the taking of a mortgage on a client’s home to secure
legal fees is a business transaction governed by DR 5-104(A) and, when the
property is related to the representation, also a proprietary interest subject to DR
5-103(A)(1), it is not necessary to apply DR 5-101(A)(1).

Is an agreement to secure legal fees with a mortgage an improper fee
agreement?

Under DR 2-106(A), illegal or excessive attorney fee agreements are prohibited.

  DR 2-106(A) A lawyer shall not enter into an agreement for, charge,
  or collect an illegal or clearly excessive fee.

Assuming that the underlying fee is not excessive or illegal, DR 2-106(A) would
not be violated by an agreement to secure legal fees with a mortgage on a client’s
home.

Conclusion

Acquiring a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee is a business
transaction governed by DR 5-104(A). Thus, an attorney may acquire a mortgage
on a client’s home to secure a legal fee; however, full disclosure by the attorney
and consent by the client is required by DR 5-104(A).

Acquiring a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee when the home is
the subject matter of litigation or related to the cause of action is not only a

Op. 2004-8 6

business transaction but also is a proprietary interest subject to DR 5-103(A).
Thus, an attorney may acquire a mortgage on a client’s home to secure a legal fee
when the home is the subject of litigation or related to the subject of the
representation, if the attorney is asserting a legally permissible lien as required
by DR 5-103(A) and if there is full disclosure by the attorney and client consent as
required by DR 5-104(A).

Advisory Opinions of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and
Discipline are informal, nonbinding opinions in response to
prospective or hypothetical questions regarding the application of the
Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, the
Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary, the Code
of Professional Responsibility, the Code of Judicial Conduct, and the
Attorney’s Oath of Office.

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