The California Certificate of Counsel is a document that must be completed and filed with the court to certify that a lawyer has provided legal counsel to a client in a civil proceeding. It is required in certain types of civil proceedings in California, including conservatorships, guardianship, adoptions, probate, and other proceedings. The certificate is considered an "attorney's opinion" that the lawyer has provided competent counsel and that the client was properly advised. It also serves as a record of the lawyer's services and fees. There are two types of California Certificate of Counsel: the Original Certificate of Counsel and the Renewal Certificate of Counsel. The Original Certificate of Counsel is completed for the first time the lawyer provides services to the client, while the Renewal Certificate of Counsel is completed each time the lawyer provides ongoing services to the client.