Title 15, Chapter 19, Section 14
( 15-19-14)
(a) Attorneys at law shall have a lien on all papers and money of
their clients in their possession for services rendered to them.
They may retain the papers until the claims are satisfied and may
apply the money to the satisfaction of the claims. (b) Upon actions, judgments, and decrees for money, attorneys at law
shall have a lien superior to all liens except tax liens; and no
person shall be at liberty to satisfy such an action, judgment, or
decree until the lien or claim of the attorney for his fees is fully
satisfied. Attorneys at law shall have the same right and power
over the actions, judgments, and decrees to enforce their liens as
their clients had or may have for the amount due thereon to them. (c) Upon all actions for the recovery of real or personal property
and upon all judgments or decrees for the recovery of the same,
attorneys at law shall have a lien for their fees on the property
recovered superior to all liens except liens for taxes, which may be
enforced by mortgage and foreclosure by the attorneys at law or
their lawful representatives as liens on personal property and real
estate are enforced. The property recovered shall remain subject to
the liens unless transferred to bona fide purchasers without notice. (d) If an attorney at law files his assertion claiming a lien on
property recovered in an action instituted by him, within 30 days
after a recovery of the same, his lien shall bind all persons. (e) The same liens and modes of enforcement thereof which are
allowed to attorneys at law who are employed to bring an action for
any property, upon the property recovered, shall be equally allowed
to attorneys at law employed and serving in defense against such
actions in case the defense is successful. (f) This Code section shall not affect the rights of attorneys under Code Section 15-19-13 and decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals thereon. |