Section 38-10-7.1

Scope of representation of district attorney or appointed attorney in support enforcement action.

Any district attorney or attorney approved or appointed by the Attorney General initiating legal proceedings at the request of the Department of Human Resources to establish or enforce child support, spousal support, medical support, and/or any other support services pursuant to the provisions of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and the laws of this state shall represent the State of Alabama, Department of Human Resources, exclusively in said proceedings. No attorney-client relationship shall exist between the IV-D attorney and any applicant or recipient of the agency's support enforcement services, without regard to the style of the case in which legal proceedings are initiated. Said attorney representing the state in a IV-D case is only authorized to appear and prosecute and/or defend issues of support and cannot in a IV-D case address or provide representation to the IV-D client on any other or ancillary issues raised or presented in that action. The provisions of this section shall apply to any attorney authorized to represent the State of Alabama and providing support enforcement services to the Department of Human Resources, and shall be applicable in any action brought by the department pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and the laws of this state. The Department of Human Resources shall advise all applicants or recipients of the agency's support enforcement services that no attorney-client relationship exist between the IV-D attorney and the applicant or recipient and shall have executed a written statement signed by the recipient to that effect.

(Acts 1994, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 94-800, p. 105, §1.)