Current Edition- California Business Practice

The Peacemaker Quarterly- April 2014

Friday, September 6, 2013

Attorney Client Privilege Survives Death of Client

The issue of whether the attorney client privilege survives the death of a client was discussed in class.  The following provides us with an answer to this question:

"Despite the scholarly criticism, we think there are weighty reasons that counsel in favor of posthumous application. Knowing that communications will remain confidential even after death encourages the client to communicate fully and frankly with counsel. While the fear of disclosure, and the consequent withholding of information from counsel, may be reduced if disclosure is limited to posthumous disclosure in a criminal context, it seems unreasonable to assume that it vanishes altogether. Clients may be concerned about reputation, civil liability, or possible harm to friends or family. Posthumous disclosure of such communications may be a feared as disclosure during the client's lifetime." Swidler & Berlin v. United States, 524 U.S. 399 (1998)

Prior to the 1998 Supreme Court decision a majority of courts but not all recognized that the attorney client privilege did survive the death of a client.  Should the privilege survive?

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