Virginia Code Title 20. Domestic Relations § 20-171. Beginning and concluding collaborative law process

A. A collaborative law process begins when the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement.

B. A tribunal shall not order a party to participate in a collaborative law process over such party's objection.

C. A collaborative law process is concluded by a:

D. A collaborative law process terminates:

E. A party's collaborative lawyer shall give prompt notice to all other parties in a record of a discharge or withdrawal.

F. A party may terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause.

G. Notwithstanding 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 is sent to the parties:

H. A collaborative law process does not conclude if, with the consent of the parties, a party requests a tribunal to approve a resolution of the collaborative matter or any part of such matter as evidenced by a signed record, including any orders necessary to effectuate the terms of an agreement reached in the collaborative law process and evidenced in a signed record.

I. A collaborative law participation agreement may provide additional methods of concluding a collaborative law process.