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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="10-115" title_number="10" title_name="Support in General" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Civil and Criminal Enforcement">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “legal proceeding” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>a civil action for child support;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a paternity proceeding under Title 5, Subtitle 10 of this article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a proceeding under Subtitle 3 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In any support action in which the Administration is providing child support services under federal law, the Administration may initiate a legal proceeding to establish, modify, or enforce a duty of support.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In a legal proceeding, the Administration shall be represented by:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the Attorney General;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the State’s Attorney, if the State’s Attorney has agreed to provide representation under subsection (g) of this section; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a qualified lawyer who is appointed by and subject to supervision and removal by the Attorney General.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>An attorney who initiates or participates in a legal proceeding under this section shall represent the Administration.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Representation of the Administration by an attorney under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>creates an attorney–client relationship between that attorney and the Administration; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>does not create an attorney–client relationship between that attorney and any other person.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The attorney representing the Administration in a legal proceeding under this section shall advise the person whom the Administration has approved for child support services that the attorney’s representation of the Administration does not create an attorney–client relationship between the attorney and that person.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A State’s Attorney may make a written agreement with the Secretary of Human Services and the county to provide legal representation for a fiscal year. An agreement shall be made by September 1 of the year preceding the fiscal year for which representation will be provided.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An agreement shall establish reasonable administrative and fiscal requirements for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>providing and continuing representation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>reimbursement.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
