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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353623</law_id><section_number>20-179</section_number><catch_line>Appropriateness of collaborative law process</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><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><p>Before a <span class="dictionary">prospective party</span> signs a <span class="dictionary">collaborative law participation agreement</span>, a prospective <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> shall:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Assess with the <span class="dictionary">prospective party</span> factors the lawyer reasonably believes relate to whether a <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span> is appropriate for the <span class="dictionary">prospective party</span>&#x2019;s matter; <a id="paragraph-1317488" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-179/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Provide the <span class="dictionary">prospective party</span> with information that the lawyer reasonably believes is sufficient for the party to make an informed decision about the <span class="dictionary">material</span> benefits and risks of a <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span> as compared to the <span class="dictionary">material</span> benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed <span class="dictionary">collaborative matter</span>, such as <span class="dictionary">litigation</span>, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation; and <a id="paragraph-1317489" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-179/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Advise the <span class="dictionary">prospective party</span> that:
			a. After signing a <span class="dictionary">collaborative law participation agreement</span>, if a party initiates a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> or seeks <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> intervention in a pending <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> related to the <span class="dictionary">collaborative matter</span>, the <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span> terminates;<br/><br/>			b. Participation in a <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span> is voluntary, and any party has the right to unilaterally terminate a <span class="dictionary">collaborative law process</span> with or without cause; and<br/><br/>			c. The <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> and any lawyer in a <span class="dictionary">law firm</span> with which the <span class="dictionary">collaborative lawyer</span> is associated may not appear before a <span class="dictionary">tribunal</span> to represent a party in a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> related to the <span class="dictionary">collaborative matter</span>, except as authorized by subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception" href="/20-175/">20-175</a> or by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification" href="/20-176/">20-176</a>. <a id="paragraph-1317490" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-179/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
