{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4005","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-4005","heading":"Beginning and concluding collaborative law process.","body":"(a)\nA collaborative law process begins when the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement.\n\n(b)\nThe tribunal may not order a party to participate in a collaborative law process over that party’s objection.\n\n(c)\nA collaborative law process is concluded by:\n(1)\nThe resolution of a collaborative matter as evidenced by a signed record;\n(2)\nThe resolution of a part of the collaborative matter, evidenced by a signed record, in which the parties agree that the remaining parts of the matter will not be resolved in the process; or\n(3)\nThe termination of the process.\n\n(d)\nA collaborative law process terminates:\n(1)\nWhen a party gives notice to other parties in a record that the process is ended; or\n(2)\nWhen a party:\n(A)\nBegins a proceeding related to a collaborative matter without the agreement of all parties; or\n(B)\nIn a pending proceeding related to the matter:\n(i)\nInitiates a pleading, motion, order to show cause, or request for a conference with the tribunal;\n(ii)\nRequests that the proceeding be put on the tribunal’s calendar; or\n(iii)\nTakes similar action requiring notice to be sent to the parties; or\n(3)\nExcept as otherwise provided by subsection (g) of this section, when a party discharges a collaborative lawyer or a collaborative lawyer withdraws from further representation of a party.\n\n(e)\nA party’s collaborative lawyer shall give prompt notice to all parties in a record of a discharge or withdrawal.\n\n(f)\nA party may terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause.\n\n(g)\nNotwithstanding the discharge or withdrawal of a collaborative lawyer, a collaborative law process continues, if not later than 30 days after the date that the notice of the discharge or withdrawal of a collaborative lawyer required by subsection (e) of this section is sent to the parties:\n(1)\nThe unrepresented party engages a successor collaborative lawyer; and\n(2)\nIn a signed record:\n(A)\nThe parties consent to continue the process by reaffirming the collaborative law participation agreement;\n(B)\nThe agreement is amended to identify the successor collaborative lawyer; and\n(C)\nThe successor collaborative lawyer confirms the lawyer’s representation of a party in the collaborative process.\n\n(h)\nA collaborative law process does not conclude if, with the consent of the parties, a party requests the tribunal to approve a resolution of the collaborative matter or any part thereof as evidenced by a signed record.\n\n(i)\nA collaborative law participation agreement may provide additional methods of concluding a collaborative law process.","path":["Title 16. Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]","Chapter 40. Collaborative Law; Uniform Act."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-4005","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"ed1aeb9ad7702d0ddcdb2f2a62fd4fb1692b8731c3ec06643bb516bf3119c93e","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4004","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4006"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}