Sudden Health Crisis Succession Plan

This information is being provided to you as a project of the State Bar of Georgia’s Senior Lawyers Committee in conjunction with the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar. Its purpose is twofold:

(1) to assist lawyers in preparing their own “sudden health crisis emergency” (or succession) plan; and

(2) to assist persons who are helping a lawyer who has undergone a “sudden health crisis,” especially if that lawyer had no sudden health crisis emergency plan.

A sudden health crisis is one that temporarily or permanently stops the lawyer from being able to practice law and has a sudden onset.

The lawyer who has suffered a sudden health crisis is referred to below as the “Disabled Lawyer.” The sudden health crisis is the Disabled Lawyer’s disability from any cause that prevents him or her from continuing to actively practice law.

If a lawyer you know has suffered a sudden health crisis, first check to see if he or she has a sudden health crisis emergency plan. If the Disabled Lawyer does have a sudden health crisis emergency plan, the Designated Attorney named in the plan should immediately refer to and begin implementing that plan. If you are a family member or employee of a Disabled Lawyer who does not have a sudden health crisis emergency plan, you should contact the State Bar of Georgia at 404-527-8700 for help. You may also refer to What to Do if Your Lawyer Has a Sudden Health Crisis below for other steps you can take. Regardless of whether the Disabled Lawyer has a plan in place, you may still wish to review What to Do if Your Lawyer Has a Sudden Health Crisis.