What State Bars Actually Require for Estate Planning Attorney Websites (And What They Don't)

This section provides general educational information about attorney advertising rules. It is not legal advice, and rules vary by jurisdiction. Verify current requirements with your state bar before implementing any marketing changes.

The American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct provide the framework most states use for attorney advertising regulation. Three rules matter most for estate planning SEO:

Rule 7.1: Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Services

The core prohibition: no false or misleading communications about you or your services. A statement is misleading if it omits facts necessary to prevent the listener from being misled, creates unjustified expectations, or compares your services to others without factual substantiation.

For SEO, this means your website content, meta descriptions, and Google Business Profile must all be factually accurate. Claims like 'top estate planning attorney' or 'best trust lawyer' are problematic unless you can substantiate them with verifiable criteria.

Rule 7.2: Communications Concerning a Lawyer's Services: Specific Rules

This rule permits advertising through written, recorded, or electronic communication—including websites and paid search. It requires that ads include the name and contact information of at least one responsible attorney. It also restricts paying for recommendations (with exceptions for legitimate marketing services).

Rule 7.3: Solicitation of Clients

Restricts direct, real-time solicitation of potential clients. For digital marketing, this primarily affects live chat implementations and direct messaging. Standard SEO activities—publishing content, optimizing for search, running Google Ads—are advertising, not solicitation, and fall under 7.1 and 7.2.

Here's what many attorneys don't realize: the ABA Model Rules aren't law. They're recommendations that states may adopt, modify, or ignore entirely. As of 2024, state variations create a patchwork of requirements that directly impact estate planning SEO.

Testimonial and Endorsement Rules

The 2018 ABA amendments removed the Model Rule prohibition on testimonials, but many states haven't adopted this change:

• States with no testimonial restrictions: Many states following the 2018 amendments permit testimonials without disclaimers
• States requiring disclaimers: Some states permit testimonials but require language like 'Results may vary based on your specific circumstances'
• States with prohibitions: A few states still prohibit or heavily restrict client testimonials on attorney websites

Specialization Claims

Most bar complaints about attorney advertising involve misleading specialization claims. Many states only permit 'specialist' or 'expert' claims if you hold state-bar-certified specialization or board certification from an ABA-accredited organization. For estate planning, this typically means certification through organizations like the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) or state-specific specialization programs.

Safe alternatives: 'practice focused on estate planning,' 'concentrating in trust administration,' or 'dedicated to estate planning for [audience].'

Filing and Retention Requirements

Some states require you to file or retain copies of advertisements. Check whether your state requires filing website content, and if so, how updates are handled.

Applying advertising rules to website content requires translating regulatory language into practical SEO decisions. Here's how to evaluate your estate planning firm's website:

Homepage and Service Pages

• Credential claims: Only state bar admissions, certifications, and awards you can verify. Remove or modify superlative claims ('best,' 'top,' 'leading') unless substantiated
• Experience statements: 'Over 20 years of practice' is verifiable. 'Unmatched experience' is not
• Practice area descriptions: Describe what you do, not comparative quality claims

Attorney Bio Pages

• List actual bar admissions, graduation dates, and verifiable honors
• Avoid implying specialization without certification
• Include jurisdiction limitations: 'Licensed in [State]. Estate planning services provided only in jurisdictions where licensed.'

Blog and Educational Content

Educational content carries lower compliance risk than promotional content, but still requires accuracy. For estate planning topics involving tax law, include disclaimers like: 'This information is educational and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.'

Case Results and Testimonials

If your state permits testimonials:

• Include required disclaimers (state-specific language)
• Ensure testimonials are genuine and not incentivized beyond your normal fee arrangement
• For case results, add context: 'Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each estate planning matter depends on its specific facts.'

Paid search for estate planning keywords requires compliance with both state bar rules and Google's advertising policies. This creates a dual compliance framework many firms overlook.

State Bar Requirements for Paid Search

Google Ads are 'advertising' under bar rules, meaning all Rule 7.1 and 7.2 requirements apply:

• Ad copy must be factually accurate and not misleading
• Landing pages must include required attorney identification
• Specialization claims in ad copy face the same restrictions as website content
• Some states require specific disclosures that may need to appear on landing pages

Google's Legal Advertising Policies

Google restricts legal advertising in several ways:

• Limited personalization: You cannot target legal ads based on certain sensitive categories
• Geographic restrictions: Ads should target areas where you're licensed to practice
• Landing page requirements: Clear identification of the advertising entity and lawyer responsible

Keyword Considerations

Bidding on competitor names creates potential issues. While not explicitly prohibited by most bar rules, some states have issued ethics opinions suggesting it may violate rules against misleading advertising if your ad appears for a competitor's name search and confuses the searcher.

For estate planning firms, focus on service-based and problem-based keywords: 'revocable trust attorney [city],' 'estate planning for business owners [state].' These carry lower compliance risk and typically convert better than brand-bidding strategies.

Understanding where estate planning attorneys typically face bar complaints helps you audit your own digital marketing for risk areas.

Scenario 1: Unsubstantiated 'Best' Claims

The problem: Homepage states 'The best estate planning attorneys in [City]' based on nothing more than the firm's self-assessment.

The fix: Remove superlative claims or tie them to verifiable third-party recognition. 'Recognized by Super Lawyers 2023' is verifiable. 'Best estate planning firm' is not.

Scenario 2: Implied Specialization

The problem: Bio page describes attorney as an 'estate planning specialist' without board certification.

The fix: Replace with 'practice focused on estate planning' or 'concentrating in trust and estate matters.' Reserve 'specialist' for attorneys with state-bar-recognized certification.

Scenario 3: Out-of-State Client Attraction

The problem: SEO-optimized content ranks in states where the firm isn't licensed, attracting inquiries the firm can't serve.

The fix: Add clear jurisdiction statements to service pages and contact forms. 'We provide estate planning services in [State]. For matters in other states, please consult a locally licensed attorney.'

Scenario 4: Testimonial Rule Violations

The problem: Firm publishes Google review excerpts on website without checking state-specific testimonial requirements.

The fix: Research your state's current [Testimonial rules](/resources/bankruptcy-lawyer/seo-compliance-for-bankruptcy-lawyer) vary dramatically: some states require. Add required disclaimers. If your state prohibits testimonials, use outcome-neutral client references or focus on credentials instead.

Estate planning SEO isn't a one-time compliance check—it requires ongoing monitoring as both bar rules and your content evolve.

Annual State Bar Review

Many state bars updated their advertising rules following the 2018 ABA amendments, and updates continue. Each year, check:

• Your state bar's current advertising rules (not just the ABA model)
• Recent ethics opinions on digital marketing topics
• Any new filing or retention requirements

Content Audit Triggers

Beyond annual reviews, audit your website content when:

• Adding new attorney bios or updating credentials
• Publishing case results or adding testimonials
• Expanding services or practice areas
• Creating content targeting new geographic areas

Documentation Practices

Maintain records that demonstrate good-faith compliance efforts:

• Screenshots of website pages with dates
• Source documentation for credential claims
• Written testimonial permissions from clients
• Records of state bar rule reviews

Should a bar complaint arise, this documentation helps demonstrate you took compliance seriously rather than acting recklessly.

When to Consult an Ethics Attorney

For gray-area questions—particularly around new marketing tactics, multi-state advertising, or novel testimonial formats—consider consulting an attorney who focuses on professional responsibility matters. The cost of an ethics opinion is minimal compared to defending a bar complaint.