| 1 | 1 | | 83R24574 JSC-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Bohac H.B. No. 3470 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3470: |
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| 4 | 4 | | By: Gooden C.S.H.B. No. 3470 |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to a disclosure by an attorney before accepting |
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| 10 | 10 | | representation of a client in a suit for the dissolution of |
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| 11 | 11 | | marriage. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 6, Family Code, is amended |
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| 14 | 14 | | by adding Section 6.412 to read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 6.412. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED. (a) An attorney may not |
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| 16 | 16 | | agree to represent a client in a suit for dissolution of a marriage |
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| 17 | 17 | | unless: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) the attorney provides the disclosure described by |
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| 19 | 19 | | Subsection (b) to the client; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) the client acknowledges in writing that the client |
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| 21 | 21 | | has received and understands the disclosure. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (b) The State Bar of Texas shall adopt the disclosure form |
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| 23 | 23 | | required under this section. The disclosure must include: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (1) information about arbitration, mediation, |
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| 25 | 25 | | collaborative law, and alternatives to retaining an attorney for |
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| 26 | 26 | | the dissolution of a marriage; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) any other information the state bar requires. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. (a) The State Bar of Texas shall adopt the |
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| 29 | 29 | | disclosure form required by Section 6.412, Family Code, as added by |
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| 30 | 30 | | this Act, not later than January 1, 2014. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (b) Section 6.412, Family Code, as added by this Act, |
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| 32 | 32 | | applies to the representation of a client that begins on or after |
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| 33 | 33 | | March 1, 2014. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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