AN ACT authorizing attorneys licensed in this state to deposit disputed earnest money with the clerk of superior court.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 93A‑12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 93A‑12.  Disputed monies.
(a)	A real estate broker licensed under this Chapter or an attorney licensed to practice law in this State may deposit with the clerk of court in accordance with this section monies, other than a residential security deposit, the ownership of which are in dispute and that the real estate broker or attorney received while acting in a fiduciary capacity.
(b)	The disputed monies shall be deposited with the clerk of court in the county in which the property for which the disputed monies are being held is located. At the time of depositing the disputed monies, the real estate broker or attorney shall certify to the clerk of court that the persons who are claiming ownership of the disputed monies have been notified in accordance with subsection (c) of this section that the disputed monies are to be deposited with the clerk of court and that the persons may initiate a special proceeding with the clerk of court to recover the disputed monies.
…
(d)	A real estate broker or attorney shall not deposit disputed monies with the clerk of court until 90 days following notification of the persons claiming ownership of the disputed monies.
…."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2011.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 17th day of June, 2011.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Thom Tillis
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved 12:07 p.m. this 27th day of June, 2011