{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4015","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-4015","heading":"Coercive or violent relationship.","body":"(a)\nBefore a prospective party signs a collaborative law participation agreement, a prospective collaborative lawyer shall make reasonable inquiry whether the prospective party has a history of a coercive or violent relationship with another prospective party.\n\n(b)\nThroughout a collaborative law process, a collaborative lawyer reasonably and continuously shall assess whether the party the collaborative lawyer represents has a history of a coercive or violent relationship with another party.\n\n(c)\nIf a collaborative lawyer reasonably believes that the party the lawyer represents or the prospective party who consults the lawyer has a history of a coercive or violent relationship with another party or prospective party, the lawyer may not begin or continue a collaborative law process unless:\n(1)\nThe party or the prospective party requests beginning or continuing the process; and\n(2)\nThe collaborative lawyer reasonably believes that the safety of the party or prospective party can be protected adequately during the 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/16-4015","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"2c8a9f31f4358d0fa2494246022f7b7afe486a84225fd8b1ff49f540134224b6","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4014","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-4016"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}