MD Rule 19-802 - Attorneys who are admitted to the MD bar shall register with the Attorney Information System (“AIS”) within 30 days after being admitted or authorized to practice in Maryland. See 19-802(b) for exceptions.
- July 1 – This is the beginning of the Fiscal Year. Attorneys wishing to change their status to Inactive/Retired must submit a notarized Affidavit of Inactive/Retired Status by August 31st. Attorneys who have had their Affidavit approved by the Fund no longer have payment and/or reporting obligations, including the FY in which the affidavit was submitted.
- July 10 - On or before July 10 of each year AIS will generate and send electronically to each attorney who is responsible for an assessment, or who has volunteered to contribute to the Fund, a notice of assessment for the next ensuing fiscal year. Payment may be made by credit card in AIS or by mailing a check or money order to CPF. The AIS generated email will include notice to comply with the Federal Tax Identification Number disclosure and notice to comply with the pro bono and IOLTA reporting requirements.
- August 31 – Deadline for submitting a notarized Affidavit of Inactive/Retired Status for the current fiscal year.
- September 10 – Final day to pay the annual assessment without incurring a late fee. Pro Bono and IOLTA reports are also due by this date. The payment portal in AIS will be closed at 11:59 PM on this date and remain closed until a late fee of $25 is assessed on all delinquent accounts.
- January 10 – Final day to pay the annual assessment without incurring a second late fee. The payment portal in AIS will be closed at 11:59 PM on this date and remain closed until a late fee of $50 is assessed on all delinquent accounts.
- February 10 – Pursuant to Rule 19-606, 19-409 and 19-503, as soon as practicable after February 10 each year, AOC shall electronically send a Notice of Default to each attorney who has failed to pay the CPF assessment in full, including late fees and charges for dishonored checks, and/or failed to provide their federal tax identification number or statement that there is no such number to the Fund, and/or has not filed the required IOLTA Compliance Report, and/or has not filed the required Pro Bono Legal Service Report.
- March 10 – As soon as practicable after February 10, but no later than March 10 each year the Supreme Court of Maryland will receive a proposed Temporary Suspension Order and Decertification Order stating the names and Fund account number of those attorneys who failed cure the default stated in the Notice of Default.
Once the Court is satisfied that proper notice was sent to the attorneys listed in the proposed Decertification and Temporary Suspension Order, the Court enters the Order prohibiting each attorney from practicing law in Maryland.
PAYMENTS: Payment of the Assessment may be made by credit or bank card through AIS, or by check or money order, mailed or hand delivered, to the Fund. Payments are not accepted via telephone.
CHANGE OF CONTACT INFORMATION: Rule 19-802(d) states, “Attorneys shall update their AIS account within 30 days of becoming aware of a change in the information. AIS and constituent agencies have the right to rely on the latest information in AIS for billing and disciplinary purposes and for other correspondence or communication.”
MDEC: Changing your address in AIS or through CPF does not update your information in MDEC. AIS and MDEC are independent of one another. More information regarding MDEC, their policies and procedures, and their change of address form may be found here: https://mdcourts.gov/mdec/efilingatty.
QUESTIONS: If you have questions concerning these dates, your status, or need assistance registering for AIS, please contact the Fund at 410-630-8140.