License status changes

Learn how to complete voluntary license status changes.

The only voluntary statuses are active, inactive and resigned. Continue reading for detailed guidance on how to complete each of the following voluntary license status changes online through My State Bar Profile:

• Transfer to inactive
• Transfer to active
• Voluntarily resign 

Transfer to inactive

If you no longer practice law in California and wish to transfer to voluntary inactive status, please note the following:

• To have your 2026 annual fees calculated at the lower inactive rate, you must submit your transfer to inactive request online through My State Bar Profile by December 1, 2025.
• The effective date of the transfer to inactive must be on or before December 31, 2025, to qualify for the 2026 inactive fee. 

Continue reading below for instructions on how to:

• Submit a transfer to inactive request
• Edit a pending transfer to inactive request
• Rescind a pending transfer to inactive request

Submit a transfer to inactive request

 

Step 1: Log In

Go to My State Bar Profile and sign in using your bar number and password.

Step 2: Access Status Change Menu

From the main navigation bar at the top of your My State Bar Profile Summary page, select “Status Change.”

Step 3: Select “Transfer to Inactive” Option

Click “Transfer to Inactive” from the available options.

Step 4: Review Instructions Page

Carefully read the “Important Information” notification and on-screen instructions about transferring to inactive status.

Check the two boxes confirming you have read and understand the instructions. Click “Start” to continue.

Step 5: Important Information Pop-Up

A pop-up will appear repeating key reminders.

Check the box to confirm you understand. Click “Confirm” to proceed.

Step 6: Select Effective Date

Choose your desired effective date for the status change.

Your effective date cannot be backdated or set beyond December 31 of the current year. If you wish to transfer to inactive status after December 31, please submit your request on or after January 1 of the following year.

Step 7: Confirm Understanding of Pertinent State Bar Act and the Rules of the State Bar of California and Submit Declaration

Carefully read the on-screen pertinent State Bar Act and the Rules of the State Bar of California.

Check the box confirming your understanding and to submit the required declaration. Click “Submit” to continue.

Step 8: Final Confirmation Pop-up

A confirmation pop-up will appear showing your selected effective date.

• Review the information carefully.
• Click “Confirm” to finalize your request.

Step 9: Confirmation of Submission

A confirmation page will display once your request is successfully submitted.

Step 10: After Submission

After your request is successfully submitted:

• Your status will update to inactive effective the date you selected.
  • If you selected today’s date, please allow 1–2 business days for the change to appear on your record.
  • If you selected a future date, the status change will take effect on that date.
• Requests can be edited up to one day before the effective date.
• If the request was submitted on the same day as its effective date, edits may be made until the end of that day.

Edit a pending transfer to inactive request

 

Step 1: Locate Your Pending Request

You can access your pending request in one of two ways:

• From your My State Bar Profile Summary page: Click “Review Request” in the pending request notification banner at the top of your My State Bar Profile.
• From the navigation menu: Select “Status Change” from the main navigation bar, then choose “Review Pending Request.”

Step 2: Access the Pending Request

Click “Review Request” to open the request details page.

Step 3: Select to “Edit” Pending Request

On the request details page, click “Edit” to modify your pending request.

Step 4: Select Effective Date

Choose your desired effective date for the status change.

Your effective date cannot be backdated or set beyond December 31 of the current year. If you wish to transfer to inactive status after December 31, please submit your request on or after January 1 of the following year.

Step 5: Confirm Understanding of Pertinent State Bar Act and the Rules of the State Bar of California and Submit Declaration

Carefully read the on-screen pertinent State Bar Act and the Rules of the State Bar of California.

Check the box confirming your understanding and to submit the required declaration. Click “Submit” to continue.

Step 6: Final Confirmation Pop-up

A confirmation pop-up will appear showing your selected effective date.

• Review the information carefully.
• Click “Confirm” to finalize your request.

Step 7: Confirmation of Submission

A confirmation page will display once your request is successfully submitted.

Step 8: After Submission

After your request is successfully submitted:

• Your status will update to inactive effective the date you selected.
  • If you selected today’s date, please allow 1–2 business days for the change to appear on your record.
  • If you selected a future date, the status change will take effect on that date.
• Requests can be edited up to one day before the effective date.
• If the request was submitted on the same day as its effective date, edits may be made until the end of that day.

Rescind a pending transfer to inactive request

 

Step 1: Locate Your Pending Request

You can access your pending request in one of two ways:

• From your My State Bar Profile Summary page: Click “Review Request” in the pending request notification banner at the top of your My State Bar Profile.
• From the navigation menu: Select “Status Change” from the main navigation bar, then choose “Review Pending Request.”

Step 2: Access the Pending Request

Click “Review Request” to open the request details page.

Step 3: Select to “Rescind” Pending Request

On the request details page, click “Rescind” to rescind your pending request.

Step 4: Confirm Rescind Request

A confirmation pop-up will appear asking you to confirm that you want to rescind your request.
Click “Rescind Request” to continue.

Step 5: Confirmation of Rescind Request

A confirmation page will display once your request is successfully rescinded.

Transfer to active

If you are currently on voluntary inactive status and wish to transfer to active, your transfer to active request must be submitted online through My State Bar Profile.

If applicable, once your transfer to active request has been processed and your annual fees have been adjusted, payment will be expected immediately.

Continue reading below for instructions on how to:

• Submit a transfer to active request
• Edit a pending transfer to active request
• Rescind a pending transfer to active request

Submit a transfer to active request

 

Step 1: Log In

Go to My State Bar Profile and sign in using your bar number and password.

Step 2: Access Status Change Menu

From the main navigation bar at the top of your My State Bar Profile Summary page, select “Status Change.”

Step 3: Select “Transfer to Inactive” Option

Click “Transfer to Active” from the available options.

Step 4: Review Instructions Page

Carefully read the “Important Information” notification and on-screen instructions about transferring to active status.

Check the box confirming you have read and understand the instructions. Click “Start” to continue.

Step 5: Important Information Pop-Up

A pop-up will appear repeating key reminders.

Check the box to confirm you understand. Click “Confirm” to proceed.

Step 6: Select Effective Date

Choose your desired effective date for the status change.

Your effective date cannot be backdated or set beyond December 31 of the current year. If you wish to transfer to inactive status after December 31, please submit your request on or after January 1 of the following year.

Step 7: Submit Declaration

Check the box to submit the required declaration. Click “Submit” to continue.

Step 8: Final Confirmation Pop-up

A confirmation pop-up will appear showing your selected effective date.

• Review the information carefully.
• Click “Confirm” to finalize your request.

Step 9: Confirmation of Submission

A confirmation page will display once your request is successfully submitted.

Step 10: After Submission

After your request is successfully submitted:

• Your status will update to active effective the date you selected.
  • If you selected today’s date, please allow 1–2 business days for the change to appear on your record.
  • If you selected a future date, the status change will take effect on that date.
• Requests can be edited up to one day before the effective date.
• If the request was submitted on the same day as its effective date, edits may be made until the end of that day.

Edit a pending transfer to active request

 

Step 1: Locate Your Pending Request

You can access your pending request in one of two ways:

• From your My State Bar Profile Summary page: Click “Review Request” in the pending request notification banner at the top of your My State Bar Profile.
• From the navigation menu: Select “Status Change” from the main navigation bar, then choose “Review Pending Request.”

Step 2: Access the Pending Request

Click “Review Request” to open the request details page.

Step 3: Select to “Edit” Pending Request

On the request details page, click “Edit” to modify your pending request.

Step 4: Select Effective Date

Choose your desired effective date for the status change.

Your effective date cannot be backdated or set beyond December 31 of the current year. If you wish to transfer to inactive status after December 31, please submit your request on or after January 1 of the following year.

Step 5: Submit Declaration

Check the box to submit the required declaration. Click “Submit” to continue.

Step 6: Final Confirmation Pop-up

A confirmation pop-up will appear showing your selected effective date.

• Review the information carefully.
• Click “Confirm” to finalize your request.

Step 7: Confirmation of Submission

A confirmation page will display once your request is successfully submitted.

Step 8: After Submission

After your request is successfully submitted:

• Your status will update to active effective the date you selected.
  • If you selected today’s date, please allow 1–2 business days for the change to appear on your record.
  • If you selected a future date, the status change will take effect on that date.
• Requests can be edited up to one day before the effective date.
• If the request was submitted on the same day as its effective date, edits may be made until the end of that day.

Rescind a pending transfer to active request

 

Step 1: Locate Your Pending Request

You can access your pending request in one of two ways:

• From your My State Bar Profile Summary page: Click “Review Request” in the pending request notification banner at the top of your My State Bar Profile.
• From the navigation menu: Select “Status Change” from the main navigation bar, then choose “Review Pending Request.”

Step 2: Access the Pending Request

Click “Review Request” to open the request details page.

Step 3: Select to “Rescind” Pending Request

On the request details page, click “Rescind” to rescind your pending request.

Step 4: Confirm Rescind Request

A confirmation pop-up will appear asking you to confirm that you want to rescind your request.
Click “Rescind Request” to continue.

Step 5: Confirmation of Rescind Request

A confirmation page will display once your request is successfully rescinded.

Voluntarily resign

The State Bar does not have a retired status option. If you simply stop paying annual fees, your license will be suspended. Additionally, notification of retirement is not sufficient to change your status.

Please remember that annual license fees are waived for licensees on inactive status who are 70 years of age on March 30 and will continue to be waived for subsequent years, as long as they remain inactive. Resignation, however, should be considered a permanent step, for attorneys who are certain they would not wish to practice law in California again. Re-admission after resignation would require a reinstatement petition in the State Bar Court, an expensive and time-consuming process which usually entails re-taking most of the bar exam.

If you would like to voluntarily resign, log in to your My State Bar Profile and click the "Voluntary Resignation Form" option under the "Status Changes" menu to access and complete the required form.