{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/20-170.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/20-170.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/20-170.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/20-170.html"}],"law_id":353614,"edition_id":2,"section_id":353614,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-170","catch_line":"Collaborative law participation agreement; requirements","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.","full_text":"A\n\nA collaborative law participation agreement shall:\n\n1\n\nBe in a record;\n\n2\n\nBe signed by the parties;\n\n3\n\nState the parties&#8217; intention to resolve a collaborative matter through a collaborative law process under this chapter;\n\n4\n\nDescribe the nature and scope of the matter;\n\n5\n\nIdentify the collaborative lawyer who represents each party in the process; and\n\n6\n\nContain a statement by each collaborative lawyer confirming the lawyer&#8217;s representation of a party in the collaborative law process, which may be contained in a separate writing.\n\nB\n\nParties may agree to include in a collaborative law participation agreement additional provisions not inconsistent with this chapter.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1317440,"text":"A collaborative law participation agreement shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1317441,"text":"Be in a record;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1317442,"text":"Be signed by the parties;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1317443,"text":"State the parties&#8217; intention to resolve a collaborative matter through a collaborative law process under this chapter;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":1317444,"text":"Describe the nature and scope of the matter;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":1317445,"text":"Identify the collaborative lawyer who represents each party in the process; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":1317446,"text":"Contain a statement by each collaborative lawyer confirming the lawyer&#8217;s representation of a party in the collaborative law process, which may be contained in a separate writing.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"B"},"7":{"id":1317447,"text":"Parties may agree to include in a collaborative law participation agreement additional provisions not inconsistent with this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A6"}},"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":353612,"structure_id":50634,"section_number":"20-169","catch_line":"Applicability","url":"\/20-169\/","token":"20\/11\/20-169","metadata":false},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-170\/","history_text":false,"references":[{"id":353612,"section_number":"20-169","catch_line":"Applicability","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-169\/"},{"id":353629,"section_number":"20-185","catch_line":"Authority of tribunal in case of noncompliance","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-185\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1405105,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353614,"identifier":"20-170","token":"20\/11\/20-170","url":"\/20-170\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-170\/","token":"20\/11\/20-170","dublin_core":{"Title":"Collaborative law participation agreement; requirements","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-170","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> A <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative law participation agreement<\/span> shall: <a id=\"paragraph-1317440\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Be in a <span class=\"dictionary\">record<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-1317441\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Be signed by the parties; <a id=\"paragraph-1317442\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A3\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> State the parties&#8217; intention to resolve a <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative matter<\/span> through a <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative law process<\/span> under this chapter; <a id=\"paragraph-1317443\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A4\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Describe the nature and scope of the matter; <a id=\"paragraph-1317444\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A5\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">5.<\/span> Identify the <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative lawyer<\/span> who represents each <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> in the process; and <a id=\"paragraph-1317445\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A5\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A6\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">6.<\/span> Contain a statement by each <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative lawyer<\/span> confirming the lawyer&#8217;s representation of a <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> in the <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative law process<\/span>, which may be contained in a separate writing. <a id=\"paragraph-1317446\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#A6\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Parties may agree to include in a <span class=\"dictionary\">collaborative law participation agreement<\/span> additional provisions not inconsistent with this chapter. <a id=\"paragraph-1317447\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/20-170\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOLLABORATIVE LAW PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT; REQUIREMENTS (\u00a7 20-170)\n\nA. A collaborative law participation agreement shall:\n\n   1. Be in a record;\n\n   2. Be signed by the parties;\n\n   3. State the parties&#8217; intention to resolve a collaborative matter\n   through a collaborative law process under this chapter;\n\n   4. Describe the nature and scope of the matter;\n\n   5. Identify the collaborative lawyer who represents each party in the process;\n   and\n\n   6. Contain a statement by each collaborative lawyer confirming the\n   lawyer&#8217;s representation of a party in the collaborative law process,\n   which may be contained in a separate writing.\n\nB. Parties may agree to include in a collaborative law participation agreement\nadditional provisions not inconsistent with this chapter.\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"}}