Singapore legislation

Section 70L

of Legal Profession Act 1966

Section 70L

Application for payment of transferred unclaimed client money

Amended by22/201822/201822/201822/201822/201822/2018

(1)

Despite section 70K(3), at any time within 6 years after the transfer date of any transferred unclaimed client money, any claimant may apply to the Society for the payment of the whole or part of the amount of that money that the claimant claims to be entitled to, or to be authorised to receive.

Amended by22/2018

(2)

On an application under subsection (1), the Society must pay the relevant amount to the claimant from the Fund if such requirements, as may be prescribed by rules made under section 70N for the purposes of this subsection, are satisfied.

Amended by22/2018

(3)

Subject to subsection (6), the relevant amount mentioned in subsection (2) is —

(a)

the amount of any money paid into the Fund under section 70K that a solicitor or Singapore law practice is required, under a court order, to pay the claimant; or

(b)

the amount declared in a statutory declaration (made by any solicitor, or by a solicitor on behalf of any Singapore law practice, mentioned in subsection (4)(b)) to be the amount of any money paid into the Fund under section 70K that the claimant is entitled to or is authorised to receive.

Amended by22/2018

(4)

A payment to a claimant under subsection (2) discharges the following from liability to the claimant for the amount paid:

(a)

the Society;

(b)

any solicitor or Singapore law practice that —

(i)

paid the transferred unclaimed client money, which the claimant claims to be entitled to, or to be authorised to receive, into the Fund; or

(ii)

held the money mentioned in sub‑paragraph (i) at any time before that money was paid into the Fund.

Amended by22/2018

(5)

Despite section 70K(3) and subsection (1), if any claimant applies to the Society, after the expiry of 6 years after the transfer date of any transferred unclaimed client money, for the payment of any amount of that money that the claimant claims to be entitled to, or to be authorised to receive, the Society may pay the whole or any part of that amount to the claimant from the Fund.

Amended by22/2018

(6)

No interest is payable on any transferred unclaimed client money by the Society to any claimant under this section.

Amended by22/2018