{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-3905.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-3905.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-3905.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-3905.html"}],"law_id":368921,"edition_id":2,"section_id":368921,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3905","catch_line":"Furnishing advice and services for compensation in connection with certain debt-pooling plans deemed practicing law","history":"1956, c. 584, \u00a7 54-44.1; 1975, c. 645; 1988, c. 765; 1994, c. 567; 2004, c. 790.","full_text":"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 creditors, except as authorized for persons licensed pursuant to \u00a7 6.2-2005, shall be deemed to be practicing law. 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 law merely to make or undertake to make payments to creditors on behalf of debtors, provided any person or agency that does so does not also negotiate with creditors, undertake to negotiate with creditors, or hold itself out as undertaking to negotiate with creditors on behalf of one or more debtors. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1375701,"text":"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 creditors, except as authorized for persons licensed pursuant to \u00a7 6.2-2005, shall be deemed to be practicing law. 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 law merely to make or undertake to make payments to creditors on behalf of debtors, provided any person or agency that does so does not also negotiate with creditors, undertake to negotiate with creditors, or hold itself out as undertaking to negotiate with creditors on behalf of one or more debtors. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52566,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52565,"metadata":{"child_laws":11,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:07","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:18","permalink":{"id":1471231,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52566,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52565,"edition_id":2,"name":"Attorneys","identifier":"39","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52564,"metadata":{"child_laws":55,"child_structures":7},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:07","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:18","permalink":{"id":1471229,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52565,"identifier":"39","token":"54.1\/IV\/39","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52564,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions Regulated by the Supreme Court","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":4,"parent_id":52436,"metadata":{"child_laws":55,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:07","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:18","permalink":{"id":1471227,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52564,"identifier":"IV","token":"54.1\/IV","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52436,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":118,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1282,"child_structures":163},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":368916,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3900","catch_line":"Practice of law; student internship program; definition","url":"\/54.1-3900\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3900","metadata":false},{"id":368914,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3900.01","catch_line":"Protection of client interests; appointment of receiver for practice of a disabled, impaired, absent, deceased, suspended or disbarred attorney","url":"\/54.1-3900.01\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3900.01","metadata":false},{"id":368915,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3900.02","catch_line":"Disclosure of services provided by the Department of Veterans Services","url":"\/54.1-3900.02\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3900.02","metadata":false},{"id":368917,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3901","catch_line":"Practice of patent law","url":"\/54.1-3901\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3901","metadata":false},{"id":368918,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3902","catch_line":"Professional corporations; professional limited liability companies; and registered limited liability partnerships","url":"\/54.1-3902\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3902","metadata":false},{"id":368919,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3903","catch_line":"Oath; qualification; proof of licensure or authorization","url":"\/54.1-3903\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3903","metadata":false},{"id":368920,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3904","catch_line":"Penalty for practicing without authority","url":"\/54.1-3904\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3904","metadata":false},{"id":368921,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3905","catch_line":"Furnishing advice and services for compensation in connection with certain debt-pooling plans deemed practicing law","url":"\/54.1-3905\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3905","metadata":false},{"id":368922,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3906","catch_line":"Liability to client","url":"\/54.1-3906\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3906","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Thorsen v. Richmond Soc'y for the Prevention of Cruelty to .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record 150528","citation":"786 S.E.2d 453","date":"2016-06-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/3208959\/thorsen-v-richmond-socy-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE McCLANAHAN, dissenting. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Melissa Trent v. Onderlaw, LLC, d\/b\/a The Onder Law Firm","case_number":"0810234","citation":null,"date":"2024-06-25","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9820546\/melissa-trent-v-onderlaw-llc-dba-the-onder-law-firm\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Mark O'Hara Wright v. Andrew C. Graves, Esq.","case_number":"1079223","citation":null,"date":"2023-10-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9434732\/mark-ohara-wright-v-andrew-c-graves-esq\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Mark O'Hara Wright v. Andrew C. Graves, Esq.","case_number":"1079223","citation":null,"date":"2023-10-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9433213\/mark-ohara-wright-v-andrew-c-graves-esq\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"McConnell v. Servinsky Engineering, PLLC","case_number":"Case No. 2:13CV00048","citation":"22 F. Supp. 3d 610","date":"2014-05-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7306688\/mcconnell-v-servinsky-engineering-pllc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION AND ORDER .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":"Hewlette v. Hovis","case_number":"2:04CV128","citation":"318 F. Supp. 2d 332","date":"2004-05-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2472864\/hewlette-v-hovis\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 318 F.Supp.2d 332 (2004) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"6":{"name":"Shevlin Smith v. McLaughlin","case_number":"140500","citation":null,"date":"2015-02-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2782322\/shevlin-smith-v-mclaughlin\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present: Lemons, C.J, Goodwyn, Millette, McClanahan, and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Ripper v. Bain","case_number":"Record 961353","citation":"482 S.E.2d 832","date":"1997-02-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1060069\/ripper-v-bain\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 482 S.E.2d 832 (1997) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"In Re Palumbo Family Ltd. Partnership","case_number":"16-51039","citation":"182 B.R. 447","date":"1995-04-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1985915\/in-re-palumbo-family-ltd-partnership\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 182 B.R. 447 (1995) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":368923,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3907","catch_line":"Reasonable care of attorney in selection of index","url":"\/54.1-3907\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3907","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":368924,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3908","catch_line":"Liability for words used in proceedings concerning conduct","url":"\/54.1-3908\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3908","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":368920,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3904","catch_line":"Penalty for practicing without authority","url":"\/54.1-3904\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3904","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":368922,"structure_id":52566,"section_number":"54.1-3906","catch_line":"Liability to client","url":"\/54.1-3906\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3906","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Thorsen v. Richmond Soc'y for the Prevention of Cruelty to .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record 150528","citation":"786 S.E.2d 453","date":"2016-06-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/3208959\/thorsen-v-richmond-socy-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE McCLANAHAN, dissenting. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Melissa Trent v. Onderlaw, LLC, d\/b\/a The Onder Law Firm","case_number":"0810234","citation":null,"date":"2024-06-25","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9820546\/melissa-trent-v-onderlaw-llc-dba-the-onder-law-firm\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Mark O'Hara Wright v. Andrew C. Graves, Esq.","case_number":"1079223","citation":null,"date":"2023-10-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9434732\/mark-ohara-wright-v-andrew-c-graves-esq\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Mark O'Hara Wright v. Andrew C. Graves, Esq.","case_number":"1079223","citation":null,"date":"2023-10-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9433213\/mark-ohara-wright-v-andrew-c-graves-esq\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"McConnell v. Servinsky Engineering, PLLC","case_number":"Case No. 2:13CV00048","citation":"22 F. Supp. 3d 610","date":"2014-05-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7306688\/mcconnell-v-servinsky-engineering-pllc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION AND ORDER .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":"Hewlette v. Hovis","case_number":"2:04CV128","citation":"318 F. Supp. 2d 332","date":"2004-05-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2472864\/hewlette-v-hovis\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 318 F.Supp.2d 332 (2004) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"6":{"name":"Shevlin Smith v. McLaughlin","case_number":"140500","citation":null,"date":"2015-02-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2782322\/shevlin-smith-v-mclaughlin\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present: Lemons, C.J, Goodwyn, Millette, McClanahan, and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Ripper v. Bain","case_number":"Record 961353","citation":"482 S.E.2d 832","date":"1997-02-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1060069\/ripper-v-bain\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 482 S.E.2d 832 (1997) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"In Re Palumbo Family Ltd. Partnership","case_number":"16-51039","citation":"182 B.R. 447","date":"1995-04-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1985915\/in-re-palumbo-family-ltd-partnership\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 182 B.R. 447 (1995) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3905\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1956. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 584 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1956 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1975, chapter 645; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1994, chapter 567<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 790<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":374043,"section_number":"6.2-2005","catch_line":"Qualifications","order_by":null,"url":"\/6.2-2005\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1471261,"object_type":"law","relational_id":368921,"identifier":"54.1-3905","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3905","url":"\/54.1-3905\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3905\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/1\/54.1-3905","dublin_core":{"Title":"Furnishing advice and services for compensation in connection with certain debt-pooling plans deemed practicing law","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3905","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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 creditors<\/span>, except as authorized for persons licensed pursuant to \u00a7 6.2-2005<\/a>, shall be deemed to be practicing 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 law<\/span> merely to make or undertake to make payments to creditors<\/span> on behalf of debtors, provided any person or agency that does so does not also negotiate with creditors<\/span>, undertake to negotiate with creditors<\/span>, or hold itself out as undertaking to negotiate with creditors<\/span> on behalf of one or more debtors. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFURNISHING ADVICE AND SERVICES FOR COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN\nDEBT-POOLING PLANS DEEMED PRACTICING LAW (\u00a7 54.1-3905)\n\nThe furnishing of advice or services for compensation to a debtor in connection\nwith a debt-pooling plan pursuant to which the debtor deposits funds for the\npurpose of distributing them among his creditors, except as authorized for\npersons licensed pursuant to \u00a7 6.2-2005, shall be deemed to be practicing law.\nAny person or agency not so authorized or who is not a member of the Virginia\nState Bar who furnishes or offers to furnish such advice or services for\ncompensation shall be in violation of this section. However, it shall not\nconstitute the practice of law merely to make or undertake to make payments to\ncreditors on behalf of debtors, provided any person or agency that does so does\nnot also negotiate with creditors, undertake to negotiate with creditors, or\nhold itself out as undertaking to negotiate with creditors on behalf of one or\nmore debtors. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1\nmisdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 1956, c. 584, \u00a7 54-44.1; 1975, c. 645; 1988, c. 765; 1994, c. 567;\n2004, c. 790.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}