Akron Bar Assn. v. Singleton, UPL-90-1

• Citation: 60 Ohio Misc.2d 19,573 N.E.2d 1249
• Decision Date: 17 December 1990
• Docket Number: No. UPL-90-1,UPL-90-1
• Parties: AKRON BAR ASSOCIATION v. SINGLETON, et al. Ohio Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law
• Court: Ohio Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law

Page 19

60 Ohio Misc.2d 19

573 N.E.2d 1249

AKRON BAR ASSOCIATION v. SINGLETON, et al.

No. UPL-90-1.

Ohio Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law.

Dec. 17, 1990.

James R. King, Akron, for relator.

Ronald R. Glassman, Akron, for respondents.

Opinion and Order

This matter came before the Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law for hearing on September 21, 1990. Members of the board present and participating in this decision were Kenneth F. Seibel, Chairman, Santiago Feliciano, Jr., Paul M. Greenberger, Jeffrey L. Maloon, Dennis E. Murray, Sr., D. John Travis, and John W. Waddy, Jr.

On September 4, 1990, the parties jointly filed a "Stipulation of Facts and Waiver of Notice and Hearing." Pursuant to that waiver, neither party nor their counsel appeared before the board.

Relator's complaint, filed January 25, 1990, alleged that respondent Gary Singleton is not an attorney at law and that he and his business, respondent Divorce Simplified, Inc., have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by:

(a) advising and counseling residents of Ohio with respect to the laws of Ohio on divorce and dissolution of marriage, distribution of property and other matters related thereto;

(b) advising and counseling residents of Ohio on the preparation of items included with legal pleadings filed for divorce or dissolution in courts of the state of Ohio;

(c) preparing, on behalf of clients who are charged a fee, legal documents and pleadings filed in courts of the state of Ohio, including, but not limited to, petitions for dissolution of marriage, separation agreements, affidavits and verifications, judicial decrees and judgment entries, and visitation orders; and

(d) assisting clients who are charged a fee with the preparation and execution of the aforementioned legal documents.

Singleton is the owner and operator of Divorce Simplified, Inc. The stipulation of facts filed in this case states that respondents sell a "dissolution kit" in eleven Ohio counties. Clients complete an information sheet from which Singleton prepares and types a petition for dissolution of marriage, separation agreement, decree of dissolution, visitation order, and child support forms. Singleton then meets with the client to deliver the completed forms and to explain the procedures for filing the documents in court.

Section 2(A) of Gov.Bar R. VII states: "The unauthorized practice of law is the rendering of legal services for others by anyone not...