{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-5613","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-5613","heading":"Powers and duties of arbitrator.","body":"(a)\nAn arbitrator shall conduct an arbitration in a manner the arbitrator considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the dispute.\n\n(b)\nAn arbitrator shall provide each party a right to be heard, to present evidence material to the family law dispute, and to cross-examine witnesses.\n\n(c)\nUnless the parties otherwise agree in a record, an arbitrator's powers include the power to:\n(1)\nSelect the rules for conducting the arbitration;\n(2)\nHold conferences with the parties before a hearing;\n(3)\nDetermine the date, time, and place of a hearing;\n(4)\nRequire a party to provide:\n(A)\nA copy of a relevant court order;\n(B)\nInformation required to be disclosed in a family law proceeding under law of the District other than this chapter; and\n(C)\nA proposed award that addresses each issue in arbitration;\n(5)\nMeet with or interview a child who is the subject of a child-related dispute;\n(6)\nAppoint a private expert at the expense of the parties;\n(7)\nAdminister an oath or affirmation and issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness or the production of documents and other evidence at a hearing;\n(8)\nCompel discovery concerning the family law dispute and determine the date, time, and place of discovery;\n(9)\nDetermine the admissibility and weight of evidence;\n(10)\nPermit deposition of a witness for use as evidence at a hearing;\n(11)\nFor good cause, prohibit a party from disclosing information;\n(12)\nAppoint an attorney, guardian ad litem, or other representative for a child at the expense of the parties;\n(13)\nImpose a procedure to protect a party or child from risk of harm, harassment, or intimidation;\n(14)\nAllocate arbitration fees, attorney's fees, expert-witness fees, and other costs to the parties; and\n(15)\nImpose a sanction on a party for bad faith or misconduct during the arbitration according to standards governing imposition of a sanction for litigant misconduct in a family law proceeding.\n\n(d)\nAn arbitrator may not allow ex parte communication except to the extent allowed in a family law proceeding for communication with a judge.","path":["Title 16. Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]","Chapter 56. Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-5613","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"a4d4eb8a079ba3b5441c2414b3d9ca8f9ea7ae81a4168303818d0715fd234e43","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-5612","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-5614"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}