{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/20-179.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/20-179.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/20-179.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/20-179.html"}],"law_id":353623,"edition_id":2,"section_id":353623,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-179","catch_line":"Appropriateness of collaborative law process","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.","full_text":"Before a prospective party signs a collaborative law participation agreement, a prospective collaborative lawyer shall:\n\n1\n\nAssess with the prospective party factors the lawyer reasonably believes relate to whether a collaborative law process is appropriate for the prospective party’s matter;\n\n2\n\nProvide the prospective party with information that the lawyer reasonably believes is sufficient for the party to make an informed decision about the material benefits and risks of a collaborative law process as compared to the material benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed collaborative matter, such as litigation, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation; and\n\n3\n\nAdvise the prospective party that:\n\t\t\ta. After signing a collaborative law participation agreement, if a party initiates a proceeding or seeks tribunal intervention in a pending proceeding related to the collaborative matter, the collaborative law process terminates;\n\n\t\t\tb. Participation in a collaborative law process is voluntary, and any party has the right to unilaterally terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause; and\n\n\t\t\tc. The collaborative lawyer and any lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated may not appear before a tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative matter, except as authorized by subsection C of § 20-175 or by § 20-176.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1317487,"text":"Before a prospective party signs a collaborative law participation agreement, a prospective collaborative lawyer shall:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1317488,"text":"Assess with the prospective party factors the lawyer reasonably believes relate to whether a collaborative law process is appropriate for the prospective party’s matter;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1317489,"text":"Provide the prospective party with information that the lawyer reasonably believes is sufficient for the party to make an informed decision about the material benefits and risks of a collaborative law process as compared to the material benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed collaborative matter, such as litigation, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation; and","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1317490,"text":"Advise the prospective party that:\n\t\t\ta. After signing a collaborative law participation agreement, if a party initiates a proceeding or seeks tribunal intervention in a pending proceeding related to the collaborative matter, the collaborative law process terminates;\t\t\tb. Participation in a collaborative law process is voluntary, and any party has the right to unilaterally terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause; and\t\t\tc. The collaborative lawyer and any lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated may not appear before a tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative matter, except as authorized by subsection C of § 20-175 or by § 20-176.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50634,"edition_id":2,"name":"Uniform Collaborative Law Act","identifier":"11","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":13,"parent_id":50619,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:24","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:53","permalink":{"id":1405095,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50634,"identifier":"11","token":"20\/11","url":"\/20\/11\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50619,"edition_id":2,"name":"Domestic Relations","identifier":"20","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":56,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":329,"child_structures":36},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:49","permalink":{"id":1405077,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50619,"identifier":"20","token":"20","url":"\/20\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":353611,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-168","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/20-168\/","token":"20\/11\/20-168","metadata":false},{"id":353612,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-169","catch_line":"Applicability","url":"\/20-169\/","token":"20\/11\/20-169","metadata":false},{"id":353614,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-170","catch_line":"Collaborative law participation agreement; requirements","url":"\/20-170\/","token":"20\/11\/20-170","metadata":false},{"id":353615,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-171","catch_line":"Beginning and concluding collaborative law process","url":"\/20-171\/","token":"20\/11\/20-171","metadata":false},{"id":353616,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-172","catch_line":"Proceedings pending before tribunal; status report","url":"\/20-172\/","token":"20\/11\/20-172","metadata":false},{"id":353617,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-173","catch_line":"Emergency order","url":"\/20-173\/","token":"20\/11\/20-173","metadata":false},{"id":353618,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-174","catch_line":"Affirmation of agreement by tribunal","url":"\/20-174\/","token":"20\/11\/20-174","metadata":false},{"id":353619,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-175","catch_line":"Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception","url":"\/20-175\/","token":"20\/11\/20-175","metadata":false},{"id":353620,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-176","catch_line":"Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification","url":"\/20-176\/","token":"20\/11\/20-176","metadata":false},{"id":353621,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-177","catch_line":"Disclosure of information","url":"\/20-177\/","token":"20\/11\/20-177","metadata":false},{"id":353622,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-178","catch_line":"Standards of professional responsibility and mandatory reporting not affected","url":"\/20-178\/","token":"20\/11\/20-178","metadata":false},{"id":353623,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-179","catch_line":"Appropriateness of collaborative law process","url":"\/20-179\/","token":"20\/11\/20-179","metadata":false},{"id":353624,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-180","catch_line":"History of family abuse","url":"\/20-180\/","token":"20\/11\/20-180","metadata":false},{"id":353625,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-181","catch_line":"Confidentiality of collaborative law communication","url":"\/20-181\/","token":"20\/11\/20-181","metadata":false},{"id":353626,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-182","catch_line":"Privilege against disclosure of collaborative law communication; admissibility; discovery","url":"\/20-182\/","token":"20\/11\/20-182","metadata":false},{"id":353627,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-183","catch_line":"Waiver and preclusion of privilege","url":"\/20-183\/","token":"20\/11\/20-183","metadata":false},{"id":353628,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-184","catch_line":"Limits of privilege","url":"\/20-184\/","token":"20\/11\/20-184","metadata":false},{"id":353629,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-185","catch_line":"Authority of tribunal in case of noncompliance","url":"\/20-185\/","token":"20\/11\/20-185","metadata":false},{"id":353630,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-186","catch_line":"Uniformity of application and construction","url":"\/20-186\/","token":"20\/11\/20-186","metadata":false},{"id":353631,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-187","catch_line":"Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act","url":"\/20-187\/","token":"20\/11\/20-187","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":353622,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-178","catch_line":"Standards of professional responsibility and mandatory reporting not affected","url":"\/20-178\/","token":"20\/11\/20-178","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":353624,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-180","catch_line":"History of family abuse","url":"\/20-180\/","token":"20\/11\/20-180","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-179\/","history_text":false,"references":[{"id":353629,"section_number":"20-185","catch_line":"Authority of tribunal in case of noncompliance","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-185\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":353619,"section_number":"20-175","catch_line":"Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-175\/"},{"id":353620,"section_number":"20-176","catch_line":"Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-176\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1405141,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353623,"identifier":"20-179","token":"20\/11\/20-179","url":"\/20-179\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-179\/","token":"20\/11\/20-179","dublin_core":{"Title":"Appropriateness of collaborative law process","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-179","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Before a prospective party<\/span> signs a collaborative law participation agreement<\/span>, a prospective collaborative lawyer<\/span> shall:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Assess with the prospective party<\/span> factors the lawyer reasonably believes relate to whether a collaborative law process<\/span> is appropriate for the prospective party<\/span>’s matter; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Provide the prospective party<\/span> with information that the lawyer reasonably believes is sufficient for the party to make an informed decision about the material<\/span> benefits and risks of a collaborative law process<\/span> as compared to the material<\/span> benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed collaborative matter<\/span>, such as litigation<\/span>, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Advise the prospective party<\/span> that:\n\t\t\ta. After signing a collaborative law participation agreement<\/span>, if a party initiates a proceeding<\/span> or seeks tribunal<\/span> intervention in a pending proceeding<\/span> related to the collaborative matter<\/span>, the collaborative law process<\/span> terminates;

\t\t\tb. Participation in a collaborative law process<\/span> is voluntary, and any party has the right to unilaterally terminate a collaborative law process<\/span> with or without cause; and

\t\t\tc. The collaborative lawyer<\/span> and any lawyer in a law firm<\/span> with which the collaborative lawyer<\/span> is associated may not appear before a tribunal<\/span> to represent a party in a proceeding<\/span> related to the collaborative matter<\/span>, except as authorized by subsection C of § 20-175<\/a> or by § 20-176<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAPPROPRIATENESS OF COLLABORATIVE LAW PROCESS (\u00a7 20-179)\n\nBefore a prospective party signs a collaborative law participation agreement, a\nprospective collaborative lawyer shall:\n\n1. Assess with the prospective party factors the lawyer reasonably believes\nrelate to whether a collaborative law process is appropriate for the prospective\nparty’s matter;\n\n2. Provide the prospective party with information that the lawyer reasonably\nbelieves is sufficient for the party to make an informed decision about the\nmaterial benefits and risks of a collaborative law process as compared to the\nmaterial benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for\nresolving the proposed collaborative matter, such as litigation, mediation,\narbitration, or expert evaluation; and\n\n3. Advise the prospective party that:\n\t\t\ta. After signing a collaborative law participation agreement, if a party\ninitiates a proceeding or seeks tribunal intervention in a pending proceeding\nrelated to the collaborative matter, the collaborative law process\nterminates;\t\t\tb. Participation in a collaborative law process is voluntary, and\nany party has the right to unilaterally terminate a collaborative law process\nwith or without cause; and\t\t\tc. The collaborative lawyer and any lawyer in a law\nfirm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated may not appear before a\ntribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative\nmatter, except as authorized by subsection C of § 20-175 or by §\n20-176.\n\nHISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}