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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>368921</law_id><section_number>54.1-3905</section_number><catch_line>Furnishing advice and services for compensation in connection with certain debt-pooling plans deemed practicing law</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="118" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="IV">Professions Regulated by the Supreme Court</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="39">Attorneys</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The furnishing of advice or services for compensation to a debtor in connection with a debt-pooling plan pursuant to which the debtor deposits funds for the purpose of distributing them among his <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, except as authorized for persons licensed pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Qualifications" href="/6.2-2005/">6.2-2005</a>, shall be deemed to be practicing <span class="dictionary">law</span>. Any person or agency not so authorized or who is not a member of the Virginia State Bar who furnishes or offers to furnish such advice or services for compensation shall be in violation of this section. However, it shall not constitute the practice of <span class="dictionary">law</span> merely to make or undertake to make payments to <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> on behalf of debtors, provided any person or agency that does so does not also negotiate with <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, undertake to negotiate with <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, or hold itself out as undertaking to negotiate with <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> on behalf of one or more debtors. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>.</p></section></text><history>1956, c. 584, &#xA7; 54-44.1; 1975, c. 645; 1988, c. 765; 1994, c. 567; 2004, c. 790.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
