{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-576.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-576.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-576.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-576.5.html"}],"law_id":55196,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55196,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.5","catch_line":"Referral of disputes to dispute resolution proceedings","history":"1993, c. 905; 2002, c. 718.","full_text":"While protecting the right to trial by jury, a court, on its own motion or on motion of one of the parties, may refer any contested civil matter, or selected issues in a civil matter, to an orientation session in order to encourage the early resolution of disputes through the use of procedures that facilitate (i) open communication between the parties about the issues in the dispute, (ii) full exploration of the range of options to resolve the dispute, (iii) improvement in the relationship between the parties, and (iv) control by the parties over the outcome of the dispute. The neutral or intake specialist conducting the orientation session shall provide information regarding dispute resolution options available to the parties, screen for factors that would make the case inappropriate for a dispute resolution proceeding, and assist the parties in determining whether their case is suitable for a dispute resolution process such as mediation. The court shall set a date for the parties to return to court in accordance with its regular docket and procedure, irrespective of the referral to an orientation session. The parties shall notify the court, in writing, if the dispute is resolved prior to the return date.\n\t\tUpon such referral, the parties shall attend one orientation session unless excused pursuant to \u00a7 8.01-576.6. Further participation in a dispute resolution proceeding shall be by consent of all parties. Attorneys for any party may participate in a dispute resolution proceeding.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":202388,"text":"While protecting the right to trial by jury, a court, on its own motion or on motion of one of the parties, may refer any contested civil matter, or selected issues in a civil matter, to an orientation session in order to encourage the early resolution of disputes through the use of procedures that facilitate (i) open communication between the parties about the issues in the dispute, (ii) full exploration of the range of options to resolve the dispute, (iii) improvement in the relationship between the parties, and (iv) control by the parties over the outcome of the dispute. The neutral or intake specialist conducting the orientation session shall provide information regarding dispute resolution options available to the parties, screen for factors that would make the case inappropriate for a dispute resolution proceeding, and assist the parties in determining whether their case is suitable for a dispute resolution process such as mediation. The court shall set a date for the parties to return to court in accordance with its regular docket and procedure, irrespective of the referral to an orientation session. The parties shall notify the court, in writing, if the dispute is resolved prior to the return date.\n\t\tUpon such referral, the parties shall attend one orientation session unless excused pursuant to \u00a7 8.01-576.6. Further participation in a dispute resolution proceeding shall be by consent of all parties. Attorneys for any party may participate in a dispute resolution proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14078,"edition_id":1,"name":"Court-Referred Dispute Resolution Proceedings","identifier":"20.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:48","permalink":{"id":278775,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14078,"identifier":"20.2","token":"8.01\/20.2","url":"\/8.01\/20.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12747,"edition_id":1,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":277029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12747,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67016,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.10","catch_line":"Confidentiality of dispute resolution proceeding","url":"\/8.01-576.10\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.10","metadata":false},{"id":73838,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.11","catch_line":"Effect of written settlement agreement","url":"\/8.01-576.11\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.11","metadata":false},{"id":64310,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.12","catch_line":"Vacating orders and agreements","url":"\/8.01-576.12\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.12","metadata":false},{"id":83325,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.4","catch_line":"Scope and definitions","url":"\/8.01-576.4\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.4","metadata":false},{"id":55196,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.5","catch_line":"Referral of disputes to dispute resolution proceedings","url":"\/8.01-576.5\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.5","metadata":false},{"id":72333,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.6","catch_line":"Notice and opportunity to object","url":"\/8.01-576.6\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.6","metadata":false},{"id":76547,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.7","catch_line":"Costs","url":"\/8.01-576.7\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.7","metadata":false},{"id":72690,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.8","catch_line":"Qualifications of neutrals; referral","url":"\/8.01-576.8\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.8","metadata":false},{"id":67733,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.9","catch_line":"Standards and duties of neutrals; confidentiality; liability","url":"\/8.01-576.9\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83325,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.4","catch_line":"Scope and definitions","url":"\/8.01-576.4\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72333,"structure_id":14078,"section_number":"8.01-576.6","catch_line":"Notice and opportunity to object","url":"\/8.01-576.6\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-576.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1993. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 905 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1993 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2002, chapter 718<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76609,"section_number":"20-124.4","catch_line":"Mediation","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-124.4\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72333,"section_number":"8.01-576.6","catch_line":"Notice and opportunity to object","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-576.6\/"}],"permalink":{"id":278793,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55196,"identifier":"8.01-576.5","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.5","url":"\/8.01-576.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-576.5\/","token":"8.01\/20.2\/8.01-576.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Referral of disputes to dispute resolution proceedings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-576.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

While protecting the right to trial<\/span> by jury<\/span>, a court<\/span>, on its own motion<\/span> or on motion<\/span> of one of the parties, may refer any contested civil matter, or selected issues<\/span> in a civil matter, to an orientation session in order<\/span> to encourage the early resolution of disputes through the use of procedures that facilitate (i) open communication between the parties about the issues<\/span> in the dispute, (ii) full exploration of the range of options to resolve the dispute, (iii) improvement in the relationship between the parties, and (iv) control by the parties over the outcome of the dispute. The neutral or intake specialist conducting the orientation session shall provide information regarding dispute resolution options available to the parties, screen for factors that would make the case inappropriate for a dispute resolution proceeding, and assist the parties in determining whether their case is suitable for a dispute resolution process such as mediation. The court<\/span> shall set a date for the parties to return to court<\/span> in accordance with its regular docket<\/span> and procedure, irrespective of the referral to an orientation session. The parties shall notify the court<\/span>, in writing, if the dispute is resolved prior to the return date.\n\t\tUpon such referral, the parties shall attend one orientation session unless excused pursuant to \u00a7 8.01-576.6<\/a>. Further participation in a dispute resolution proceeding shall be by consent of all parties. Attorneys for any party<\/span> may participate in a dispute resolution proceeding.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREFERRAL OF DISPUTES TO DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS (\u00a7 8.01-576.5)\n\nWhile protecting the right to trial by jury, a court, on its own motion or on\nmotion of one of the parties, may refer any contested civil matter, or selected\nissues in a civil matter, to an orientation session in order to encourage the\nearly resolution of disputes through the use of procedures that facilitate (i)\nopen communication between the parties about the issues in the dispute, (ii)\nfull exploration of the range of options to resolve the dispute, (iii)\nimprovement in the relationship between the parties, and (iv) control by the\nparties over the outcome of the dispute. The neutral or intake specialist\nconducting the orientation session shall provide information regarding dispute\nresolution options available to the parties, screen for factors that would make\nthe case inappropriate for a dispute resolution proceeding, and assist the\nparties in determining whether their case is suitable for a dispute resolution\nprocess such as mediation. The court shall set a date for the parties to return\nto court in accordance with its regular docket and procedure, irrespective of\nthe referral to an orientation session. The parties shall notify the court, in\nwriting, if the dispute is resolved prior to the return date.\n\t\tUpon such referral, the parties shall attend one orientation session unless\nexcused pursuant to \u00a7 8.01-576.6. Further participation in a dispute resolution\nproceeding shall be by consent of all parties. Attorneys for any party may\nparticipate in a dispute resolution proceeding.\n\nHISTORY: 1993, c. 905; 2002, c. 718.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}