RS 9:377.14: Appropriateness of collaborative law process

Before a prospective party signs a collaborative family law participation agreement, a prospective collaborative lawyer shall:

(1) Assess with the prospective party factors that the lawyer reasonably believes relate to whether a collaborative family law process is appropriate for the prospective party's family law matter.

(2) 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 family law process as compared to the material benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed collaborative family law matter, such as litigation, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation.

(3) Advise the prospective party that:

(a) After signing an agreement, if a party initiates a proceeding or seeks tribunal intervention in a pending proceeding related to the collaborative family law matter, the collaborative family law process terminates.

(b) Participation in a collaborative family law process is voluntary and any party has the right to terminate unilaterally a collaborative family law process with or without cause.

(c) The collaborative lawyer and any lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated shall not appear before a tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative family law matter, except as authorized by R.S. 9:377.9(C), 377.10(B), or 377.11(B).