Jim McCauley’s Post

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Former Ethics Counsel Virginia State Bar, now in private practice.

Statutory Lien for Attorney's Fees. Lawyers should be reminded that some important procedural changes were enacted this year amending Virginia's statute on attorney liens for fees, Virginia Code Section 54.1-3932. Written notice of an attorney's lien must now also be given to the clerk of the court in which a cause of action may be pending, as well as to the client or former client, the opposing party, or the opposing party's attorney or agent. Written notice of the lien shall be given either within 45 days of the end of representation or (a) in causes of action sounding in tort or for liquidated or unliquidated damages on contract, before settlement or adjustment, whichever is earlier or (b) in cases of annulment or divorce, before final judgment is entered, whichever is earlier. In causes of action for annulment or divorce, the court may not determine the validity or amount of the lien until the divorce judgment is final and all residual disputes regarding marital property are concluded. Note also that the lien statute only applies to claims or causes of action sounding in tort, contract or annulment and divorce. Thus, the statute does not include transactional matters.

Notarized affidavit under penalty of perjury attested by the attorney’s signature is required to be submitted on the record with the detailed attorney fees, Mr. McCauley, in order for any court to even consider attorney’s fees for any matter.

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