HB585 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mack N. ButlerRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Dan WilliamsKerry Rich

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Attorneys, certain non attorneys allowed to represent certain entities in court, Sec. 34-3-7 am'd.

Summary

HB585 would let certain non-attorneys who own or control a business entity appear in court on behalf of that entity.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the law to allow a sole shareholder of a corporation, a sole owner of a business entity, or a member of an LLC with five or fewer members to appear in court on behalf of that entity. This appearance would be permitted without violating the law prohibiting non-attorneys from practicing law, and the person would be held to the same standards of conduct and court rules as a licensed attorney in that proceeding. It maintains the existing misdemeanor penalties for other non-attorney legal activity and specifies the effective date for the change.

Who It Affects

• Sole shareholders of corporations can appear in court on behalf of their corporation.
• Sole owners of a business entity can appear in court on behalf of that entity.
• Members of LLCs with five or fewer members can appear in court on behalf of the LLC.
• Courts and other parties in the proceedings will apply the same standards and court rules to these individuals as they do to licensed attorneys in the proceeding.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 34-3-7 to create a lawful exception allowing certain non-attorneys to appear in court for their entity.
• Eligible individuals are the sole shareholder of a corporation, the sole owner of a business entity, or a member of an LLC with five or fewer members.
• Appearances under this exception must follow the same standards of conduct and court rules as those governing licensed attorneys in the proceeding.
• Effective date: on the first day of the third month after the bill is passed and approved by the Governor (or otherwise becoming law).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Attorneys