H 4936 General Bill, By F. Smith
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 40-5-390 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN ATTORNEY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THE DEBTS
 OF A CLIENT UNLESS THE ATTORNEY AND CLIENT HAVE EXECUTED A WRITTEN AGREEMENT
 THAT THE ATTORNEY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING CERTAIN EXPENSES OR DEBTS, OR
 BOTH, OF THE CLIENT.

   04/13/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-14
   04/13/00  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-14

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-5-390 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN ATTORNEY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THE DEBTS OF A CLIENT UNLESS THE ATTORNEY AND CLIENT HAVE EXECUTED A WRITTEN AGREEMENT THAT THE ATTORNEY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING CERTAIN EXPENSES OR DEBTS, OR BOTH, OF THE CLIENT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 40-5-390. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an attorney is not responsible to pay the debts of a client unless he and the client have executed a written agreement that, as a part of his representation of the client, the attorney is responsible for paying certain expenses or debts, or both, of the client."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.