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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353619</law_id><section_number>20-175</section_number><catch_line>Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-176</reference><reference>20-179</reference><reference>20-185</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="56" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="13" identifier="11">Uniform Collaborative Law Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> is disqualified from appearing before a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> to represent a <span class="dictionary">party</span> in a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> related to the <span class="dictionary">collaborative matter</span>. <a id="paragraph-1317473" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection C and &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification" href="/20-176/">20-176</a>, a lawyer in a <span class="dictionary">law firm</span> with which the <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> is associated is disqualified from appearing before a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> to represent a <span class="dictionary">party</span> in a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> related to the <span class="dictionary">collaborative matter</span> if the <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> is disqualified from doing so under subsection A. <a id="paragraph-1317474" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> or another lawyer in a <span class="dictionary">law firm</span> with which the <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> is associated may represent a <span class="dictionary">party</span>: <a id="paragraph-1317475" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To ask a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> to <span class="dictionary">affirm</span>, ratify, and incorporate any agreement resulting from the <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span> into a <span class="dictionary">court order</span>; <a id="paragraph-1317476" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To ask a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> to enter any order necessary to effectuate the terms of any agreement resulting from the <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span>; or <a id="paragraph-1317477" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To seek or defend an emergency order to protect the health, safety, welfare, or interest of a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or a <span class="dictionary">party</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">family or household member</span>, if a successor lawyer is not immediately available to represent such person. <a id="paragraph-1317478" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If subdivision C 3 applies, a <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span>, or another lawyer in a <span class="dictionary">law firm</span> with which the <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> is associated, may represent a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or a <span class="dictionary">party</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">family or household member</span> only until such person is represented by a successor lawyer or reasonable measures are taken to protect the health, safety, welfare, or interest of the person. <a id="paragraph-1317479" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-175/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
