2. Definitions
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2022. 6 amendments in all.
Subregulation 1
In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —
“accounting corporation”, “accounting firm” and “accounting LLP” have the same meaning respectively, as in the Accountants Act (Cap. 2);
“anticipatory conveyancing money” has the same meaning as in rule 4(4) of the Conveyancing Rules;
“approved finance company” means any finance company registered under the Finance Companies Act (Cap. 108) which is approved by the Minister to accept either or both of the following:
deposits of client’s money for the purposes of these Rules;
deposits of conveyancing money for the purposes of these Rules and the Conveyancing Rules;
“bank” has the same meaning as in the Banking Act (Cap. 19);
“bank pass book” means a pass book issued by a bank in respect of any client account, conveyancing account or conveyancing (CPF) account maintained at such bank, and includes a pass book issued by an approved finance company in respect of any client account, conveyancing account or conveyancing (CPF) account maintained at such finance company;
“bank statement” means a statement issued by a bank in respect of any client account, conveyancing account or conveyancing (CPF) account maintained at such bank, and includes a statement issued by an approved finance company in respect of any client account, conveyancing account or conveyancing (CPF) account maintained at such finance company;
“Central Provident Fund Board” means the Central Provident Fund Board constituted under the Central Provident Fund Act (Cap. 36);
“client” means any person on whose account a solicitor holds or receives client’s money;
“client account” means —
a current or deposit account maintained in the name of a solicitor at a bank; or
a deposit account maintained in the name of a solicitor with an approved finance company,in the title of which account the word “client” appears;
“client’s money” means money held or received by a solicitor on account of a person for whom he is acting (in relation to the holding or receipt of such money) either as a solicitor, or in connection with his practice as a solicitor, an agent, a bailee or a stakeholder or in any other capacity, other than —
money held or received on account of the trustees of a trust of which the solicitor is solicitor-trustee;
money to which the only person entitled is the solicitor himself or, in the case of a firm of solicitors, one or more of the partners in the firm; or
conveyancing money or anticipatory conveyancing money;
“conveyance” has the same meaning as in the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act (Cap. 61);
“conveyancing account”, “conveyancing (CPF) account” and “conveyancing money” have the same meanings as in rule 2(2) of the Conveyancing Rules;
“Conveyancing Rules” means the Conveyancing and Law of Property (Conveyancing) Rules 2011 (G.N. No. S 391/2011);
“land” has the same meaning as in rule 2(2) of the Conveyancing Rules;
“online digital payment” means any form of transfer of funds by electronic means provided by a regulated financial institution as defined in section 2(1) of the Payment Services Act 2019;
“PD Officer” has the meaning given by section 82(3) of the Act;
“public accountant” has the same meaning as in the Accountants Act 2004;
“Public Accountants Oversight Committee” means the Public Accountants Oversight Committee appointed under section 4 of the Accountants Act 2004;
“signatory”, in relation to a client account, means a solicitor who is authorised to sign a cheque or other instruction effecting a withdrawal from the client account;
“solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court, and includes a Singapore law practice;
“solicitor-trustee” means a solicitor who is the sole trustee or co-trustee only with one or more of his partners or employees;
“trust money” means money held or received by a solicitor which is not client’s money or conveyancing money and which is subject to a trust of which the solicitor is a trustee whether or not he is the solicitor-trustee of such trust.
Subregulation 2
In these Rules, the references to accounts, books, ledgers, journals and records shall include loose-leaf books and such cards or other permanent documents or records as are necessary for the operation of any system of book-keeping, computerised, mechanical or otherwise.