{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4014","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-4014","heading":"Appropriateness of collaborative law process.","body":"Before a prospective party signs a collaborative law participation agreement, a prospective collaborative lawyer shall:\n\n(1)\nAssess with the prospective party factors the lawyer reasonably believes relate to whether a collaborative law process is appropriate for the prospective party’s matter;\n\n(2)\nProvide 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 law process as compared to the material benefits and risks of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed collaborative matter, such as litigation, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation; and\n\n(3)\nAdvise the prospective party that:\n(A)\nIf, after signing an agreement, a party initiates a proceeding or seeks intervention by the tribunal in a pending proceeding related to the collaborative matter, the collaborative law process terminates;\n(B)\nParticipation in a collaborative law process is voluntary and any party has the right to terminate unilaterally a collaborative law process with or without cause; and\n(C)\nThe collaborative lawyer and any lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated may not appear before the tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative matter, except as authorized by § 16-4009(c), § 16-4010(b), or § 16-4011(b).","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/16-4014","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"26576dfc7d2eff2528203cdcce9319df613479c1364b0f10c4422ac63ae100b9","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4013","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4015"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}