§ 20-182. Privilege against disclosure of collaborative law communication; admissibility; discovery
A. Subject to §§ 20-183 and 20-184, a collaborative law communication is privileged under subsection B, is not subject to discovery, and is not admissible in evidence. B. In a proceeding, the following privileges apply: 1. A party may refuse to disclose, and may prevent any other person from disclosing, a collaborative law communication. 2. […]
§ 20-171. Beginning and concluding collaborative law process
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; […]
§ 20-172. Proceedings pending before tribunal; status report
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 collaborative law participation agreement after it is signed. Subject to subsection D and §§ 20-173 and […]
§ 20-173. Emergency order
During a collaborative law process, a tribunal may issue emergency orders to protect the health, safety, welfare, or interest of a party or a party’s family or household member. 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.
§ 20-174. Affirmation of agreement by tribunal
A tribunal may affirm, ratify, and incorporate into a court order any agreement resulting from a collaborative law process. 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.
§ 20-175. Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception
A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a collaborative lawyer is disqualified from appearing before a tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative matter. B. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C and § 20-176, a lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated is […]
§ 20-176. Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification
A. The disqualification provisions of § 20-175 apply to a collaborative lawyer representing a party with or without fee. B. After a collaborative law process concludes, another lawyer in a law firm with which a collaborative lawyer disqualified pursuant to § 20-175 is associated may represent a party without fee in the collaborative matter or […]
§ 20-168. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: “Collaborative law communication” means a statement, whether oral or in a record, or verbal or nonverbal, that (i) is made to conduct, participate in, continue, or reconvene a collaborative law process and (ii) occurs after the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement and before […]
§ 20-169. Applicability
This chapter applies to a collaborative law participation agreement that meets the requirements of § 20-170 and is signed on or after July 1, 2021. 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.
§ 20-170. Collaborative law participation agreement; requirements
A. A collaborative law participation agreement shall: 1. Be in a record; 2. Be signed by the parties; 3. State the parties’ intention to resolve a collaborative matter through a collaborative law process under this chapter; 4. Describe the nature and scope of the matter; 5. Identify the collaborative lawyer who represents each party in […]