Nothing in this division shall be deemed to authorize the performance, directly or indirectly, of an act or acts constituting the practice of law by a prorater, business agent, check seller, or by any person, firm, corporation or organization described, or engaging in a transaction specified in subdivision (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) of Section 12100.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and other applicable laws, the following act or acts, when done by the owner, manager or employee of a prorater, in connection with a prorating transaction, shall be deemed to constitute the unlawful practice of law:

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Terms Used In California Financial Code 12327

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Person: includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, syndicate, estate, trust, business trust, or organization of any kind. See California Financial Code 18
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC

(a) Preparation, advising or signing of a release of attachment or garnishment, stipulation, affidavit for exemption, compromise agreement or other legal or court document;

(b) The furnishing of legal advice or performance of legal services of any kind.

No prorater (including an owner, manager or employee of a prorater) shall (1) represent that he or she is authorized or competent to furnish legal advice or perform legal services; (2) assume authority on behalf of creditors or a debtor or accept a power of attorney authorizing it to employ or terminate the services of an attorney or to arrange the terms of or compensate for such services; (3) communicate with the debtor or creditor or any other person in the name of an attorney or upon the stationery of an attorney or prepare any form or instrument which only attorneys are authorized to prepare.

(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 660, Sec. 12.)