If a client asks the lawyer to store a will for safekeeping, what is the lawyer's duty?

• A. Deliver to the client immediately
• B. Treat the will as client property and safeguard it until delivery
• C. Return to the client upon request
• D. Place in the court's custody

Answer: (B)

Safekeeping client property is the key duty here. When a client asks a lawyer to store a will for safekeeping, the lawyer must treat the will as the client’s property and hold it in secure safekeeping as a trust asset. The purpose is to protect the will from loss, theft, or damage and to keep it available for delivery when the client requests it or when a proper event occurs (such as the client’s death and the appointment of an executor). The lawyer should not deliver the will immediately unless the client specifically requests immediate delivery, and the lawyer should not place the will in court custody except under a court order or as required by procedure.