I created a clone property in the client class which does what you say-creates a new instance, assigns values of current properties to new instance, and returns instance.

This works in the simple case. For example, I create a new client instance
from the existing values in origClient:

Public Shared Function payOff(ByVal origClient As Soma_Client) As Decimal
Dim Client As Soma_Client = New Soma_Client
Client = origClient.Clone

Very useful. However, if I try to use it in a "list of" case, I get an error.

Public Shared Function payOff(ByVal origClientList As list(of Soma_Client)) As Decimal

Dim clientList As list(of Soma_Client) = New list(of Soma_Client)
dim ii as integer

for ii = 0 to origClientList.count-1
	clientList(ii) = origClientList(ii).Clone
loop

In this case I get an "index out of range" error.

Hoping for magic, if I separate the two indexed expressions
and use two statements:

dim origClientRec as soma_client = new soma_client
for ii = 0 to origClientList.count-1
        origClientRec = origClientist(ii).clone
	clientList(ii) = origClientRec.clone
loop

I still get "index out of range" error, but it occurs on the
SECOND statement. If it means anything, the error display shows the little red line underneath the 'e' in clone in the second statement.

I got the same results implementing the clone feature as a function in the client class.

Perhaps I'm not defining my objects properly? Perhaps it can't be done? Thanks for your thoughts.