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§ 10-501. Attorney liens

West's Annotated Code of MarylandBusiness Occupations and ProfessionsEffective: December 14, 2022

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Business Occupations and Professions
Title 10. Lawyers (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 5. Miscellaneous Provisions (Refs & Annos)
Effective: December 14, 2022
MD Code, Business Occupations & Professions, § 10-501
§ 10-501. Attorney liens
Currentness
In general
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an attorney at law has a lien on:
(1) a cause of action or proceeding of a client of the attorney at law from the time the cause of action arises or the proceeding begins; and
(2) a settlement, judgment, or award that a client receives as a result of legal services that the attorney at law performs.
Attachment of lien
(b) A lien under this section attaches only if, and to the extent that, under a specific agreement between an attorney at law and a client, the client owes the attorney at law a fee or other compensation for legal services that produced the settlement, judgment, or award.
Priority of liens
(c) A lien under this section is subordinate only to:
(1) a prior lien for wages due to an employee of the client for work related to the settlement, judgment, or award; or
(2) a lien for taxes that the client owes the State.
Retention of property, actions for execution of lien
(d) An attorney at law may retain property subject to a lien under this section and bring an action for execution under the lien only in accordance with rules that the Supreme Court of Maryland adopts.

Credits

Added by Acts 1989, c. 3, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 632, § 3; Acts 2002, c. 422, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2002; Acts 2023, c. 49, § 6.
Formerly Art. 10, § 46.
MD Code, Business Occupations & Professions, § 10-501, MD BUS OCCUP & PROF § 10-501
Current through legislation effective through April 25, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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