Website ownership
Law Firm Website Handoff Checklist
A practical checklist for transferring website code, domains, hosting, backups, and intake workflows to a law firm's chosen operator.
A website handoff is complete when the receiving operator can run, maintain, and restore the site. A ZIP file and a password are only part of that transfer.
Agree on the handoff checklist before development begins, including the assets, documentation, payment conditions, and responsibilities after launch.
Inventory assets and licenses
Record the domain registrar, DNS zones, source repository, hosting account, content, images, licenses, and integrations. Identify which accounts the firm owns and which services require replacement or a separate agreement.
Document environment variable names and configuration instructions without placing secret values in the repository. Transfer credentials through an agreed secure channel and rotate access after the transition.
Test deployment and restoration
Have the receiving operator deploy a copy in an isolated environment, restore an approved backup, and verify the expected pages and workflows. Record the versions and commands needed to reproduce the installation.
Use fictional records for tests. Agree on how protected records are backed up and transferred, who may access them, and which retention rules apply.
Preserve search and working links
Inventory existing URLs and match changed pages to their closest replacement. Verify redirects, canonical links, sitemap entries, analytics configuration, and robots rules before changing DNS.
Keep old assets available during the transition and check important external links. Search engines need time to process changes; a sitemap submission does not guarantee immediate indexing.
Verify mail and inquiry handling
Test form receipt, staff assignment, notifications, and replies through the intended mail service. Confirm that the team can review an inquiry even if a notification is delayed.
Write down who monitors the site after launch and how failures are escalated. Test the full workflow rather than relying on a homepage health check.
Record acceptance and support boundaries
List the checks completed, open issues, warranty period, maintenance scope, and emergency contact. Have both sides acknowledge the transfer and remaining responsibilities.
Remove obsolete access after the receiving operator confirms the system works. Keep an agreed rollback path for the transition window.
Key takeaway
A successful handoff transfers operational knowledge, tested recovery, and clear responsibility alongside the website assets.
