When an attorney is changed, as provided in the last section, written notice of the change and of the substitution of a new attorney, or of the appearance of the party in person, must be given to the adverse party. Until then he must recognize the former attorney.
§ 285.Notice of change
Title 5. Persons Specially Invested With Ministerial Powers Relating to Courts of Justice · Chapter 1. Attorneys and Counselors at Law · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 285 requires written notice of a change of attorney to be given to the adverse party, and lets that party keep treating the former attorney as counsel of record until such notice arrives.
Full Text of § 285
Plain-English Summary
Changing attorneys under § 284 is only half the story — § 285 makes sure the other side finds out. Once a change is made, written notice of the change, and of the new attorney (or of the party’s decision to appear in person), must go to the adverse party.
Until that notice arrives, the adverse party is entitled to keep dealing with the former attorney as if nothing changed. That protects the other side from being blindsided — serving papers on a lawyer who has quietly stopped representing a client would otherwise leave that side with no reliable way to know who to serve.
Official Comment
The following official comments are published by the California Law Revision Commission (and, for a few older sections, its predecessor Code Commissioners) alongside the statute itself — not commentary from this site.
Code Commissioners' Note. 1. Attorneys of record. If attorneys are changed in action, and there is no regular substitution of attorneys, according to the provisions of the statute, notices may be served on the attorney of record. Grant v. White, 6 Cal 55. 2. Notice of substitution of attorneys. Where, at different stages of the suit, different attorneys have acted for one of the parties, and no notice of substitution appears, service of notice upon the attorney last acting and recognized by the court, is sufficient to bind client. Roussin v. Stewart, 33 Cal 208.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tell the other side when I change lawyers in California?
Yes. § 285 requires written notice of the change of attorney to be given to the adverse party.
Can I keep serving papers on my opponent’s old attorney if I never got notice of a change?
Yes. § 285 lets the adverse party continue to recognize the former attorney until proper notice of the change is given.
Amendment History
Enacted 1872. Repealed and re-enacted Code Amdts 1880 ch 35 § 1.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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