Legal Question in Business Law in California

According to Kathleen Ryan O'Connor, a CNNMoney.com contributing writer, "Being a bookkeeper means you have little regulatory framework for your job � unlike CPAs, who are bound by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Professional Standards. Violating those standards can lead to membership termination and disciplinary sanctions against certified accountants."

"The relevant section of the Institute's standards code says, in part, that any financial records the client has provided you with should be returned on demand. Records that you've prepared yourself should also be handed over on request unless there are fees due to you for the preparation of those records. Supporting records related to finished work can also be withheld if you're owed fees for that specific work product."

"David Bybee is president and CEO of the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers, a trade group for the unregulated bookkeeping field. He recommends that you give back any work papers that the client provided to you, such as year-end financial statements. But final reports that you produced do not have to be returned without compensation."

Proviso: My response does not constitute legal advice, as I do not know all of the relevant facts of your case, and I do not legally represent you. Although I strive to make sure the information I provide is generally accurate and useful, you should promptly consult an able lawyer who can learn the unique details of your case more completely in a confidential relationship to ensure that the information I provide, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.

See Attorney Beal's response, that provides:

"Records that you've prepared yourself should also be handed over on request unless there are fees due to you for the preparation of those records. Supporting records related to finished work can also be withheld if you're owed fees for that specific work product."

Consult with an attorney in your area. Good Luck!

Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D. - Mr. Franchise

Franchise Attorney