A. A collaborative law process begins when the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement.
B. A tribunal shall not order a party to participate in a collaborative law process over such party's objection.
C. A collaborative law process is concluded by a:
1. Resolution of a collaborative matter as evidenced by a signed record;
2. Resolution of a part of the collaborative matter, evidenced by a signed record, in which the parties agree that the remaining parts of the matter will not be resolved in the process; or
3. Termination of the process.
D. A collaborative law process terminates:
1. When a party gives notice to his collaborative lawyer and to other parties in a record that the process is ended;
2. When a party:
a. Begins a proceeding related to a collaborative matter without the agreement of all parties; or
b. In a pending proceeding related to the matter, (i) initiates a pleading, motion, order to show cause, or request for a conference with the tribunal; (ii) requests that the proceeding be put on the tribunal's active docket; or (iii) takes similar action requiring notice to be sent to the parties; or
3. Except as otherwise provided by subsection G, when a party discharges a collaborative lawyer or a collaborative lawyer withdraws from further representation of a party.
E. A party's collaborative lawyer shall give prompt notice to all other parties in a record of a discharge or withdrawal.
F. A party may terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause.
G. Notwithstanding the discharge or withdrawal of a collaborative lawyer, a collaborative law process continues if, not later than 30 days after the date that the notice of the discharge or withdrawal of a collaborative lawyer required by subsection E is sent to the parties:
1. The unrepresented party engages a successor collaborative lawyer; and
2. In a signed record:
a. The parties consent to continue the process by reaffirming the collaborative law participation agreement;
b. The collaborative law participation agreement is amended to identify the successor collaborative lawyer; and
c. The successor collaborative lawyer confirms the lawyer's representation of a party in the collaborative process.
H. A collaborative law process does not conclude if, with the consent of the parties, a party requests a tribunal to approve a resolution of the collaborative matter or any part of such matter as evidenced by a signed record, including any orders necessary to effectuate the terms of an agreement reached in the collaborative law process and evidenced in a signed record.
I. A collaborative law participation agreement may provide additional methods of concluding a collaborative law process.
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 11 - Uniform Collaborative Law Act
§ 20-170. Collaborative law participation agreement; requirements
§ 20-171. Beginning and concluding collaborative law process
§ 20-172. Proceedings pending before tribunal; status report
§ 20-174. Affirmation of agreement by tribunal
§ 20-175. Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception
§ 20-176. Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification
§ 20-177. Disclosure of information
§ 20-178. Standards of professional responsibility and mandatory reporting not affected
§ 20-179. Appropriateness of collaborative law process
§ 20-180. History of family abuse
§ 20-181. Confidentiality of collaborative law communication
§ 20-182. Privilege against disclosure of collaborative law communication; admissibility; discovery
§ 20-183. Waiver and preclusion of privilege
§ 20-185. Authority of tribunal in case of noncompliance
§ 20-186. Uniformity of application and construction
§ 20-187. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act