(a) Persons in a proceeding pending before a tribunal may sign a collaborative law participation agreement to seek to resolve a collaborative matter related to the proceeding. The parties shall file promptly with the tribunal a notice of the agreement after it is signed. Subject to subsection (c) and Sections 6-6-26.06 and 6-6-26.07, the filing operates as an application for a stay of the proceeding.
(b) The parties shall file promptly with the tribunal notice in a record when a collaborative law process concludes by agreement of the parties or by either party if the process is terminated. The stay of the proceeding under subsection (a) is lifted when the notice is filed. The notice may not specify any reason for termination of the process.
(c) A tribunal in which a proceeding is stayed under subsection (a) may require the parties and collaborative lawyers to provide a status report on the collaborative law process and the proceeding. A status report may include only information on whether the process is ongoing or concluded. It may not include a report, assessment, evaluation, recommendation, finding, or other communication regarding a collaborative law process or collaborative law matter.
(d) A tribunal may not consider a communication made in violation of subsection (c).
(e) A tribunal shall provide parties notice and an opportunity to be heard before dismissing a proceeding in which a notice of collaborative process is filed based on delay or failure to prosecute.
Structure Code of Alabama
Article 1 - Settlement of Controversies.
Division 4 - Alabama Uniform Collaborative Law Act.
Section 6-6-26.01 - Definitions.
Section 6-6-26.02 - Applicability.
Section 6-6-26.03 - Collaborative Law Participation Agreement; Requirements.
Section 6-6-26.04 - Beginning and Concluding Collaborative Law Process.
Section 6-6-26.05 - Proceedings Pending Before Tribunal; Status Report.
Section 6-6-26.06 - Emergency Order.
Section 6-6-26.07 - Approval of Agreement by Tribunal.
Section 6-6-26.08 - Disqualification of Collaborative Lawyer and Lawyers in Associated Law Firm.
Section 6-6-26.09 - Low Income Parties.
Section 6-6-26.10 - Governmental Entity as Party.
Section 6-6-26.11 - Disclosure of Information.
Section 6-6-26.12 - Standards of Professional Responsibility and Mandatory Reporting Not Affected.
Section 6-6-26.13 - Appropriateness of Collaborative Law Process.
Section 6-6-26.14 - Coercive or Violent Relationship.
Section 6-6-26.15 - Confidentiality of Collaborative Law Communication.
Section 6-6-26.17 - Waiver and Preclusion of Privilege.
Section 6-6-26.18 - Limits of Privilege.
Section 6-6-26.19 - Authority of Tribunal in Case of Noncompliance.
Section 6-6-26.20 - Uniformity of Application and Construction.
Section 6-6-26.21 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.