Ex Parte Watson

Charles M. Watson, Jr., County Attorney for Greenwood County, (“Petitioner”), seeks a declaratory judgment as to whether nonlawyer title abstractors engage in the unauthorized practice of law when they conduct a title search and report the title status in connection with a tax foreclosure sale. We hold that such activities constitute the unauthorized practice of law and must either be conducted or supervised by an attorney.

Factual/Procedural Background

Before selling a property at a tax foreclosure sale, tax collectors must provide notice of the sale to the property owner and any lien holders.…