<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64310</law_id><section_number>8.01-576.12</section_number><catch_line>Vacating orders and agreements</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-4119</reference><reference>8.01-576.10</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="20.2">Court-Referred Dispute Resolution Proceedings</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon the filing of an independent <span class="dictionary">action</span> by a <span class="dictionary">party</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall vacate a mediated agreement reached in a dispute resolution proceeding pursuant to this chapter, or vacate an <span class="dictionary">order</span> incorporating or resulting from such agreement, where:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The agreement was procured by <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> or duress, or is unconscionable; <a id="paragraph-234061" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-576.12/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If property or financial matters in domestic relations cases involving divorce, property, support or the welfare of a child are in dispute, the parties failed to provide substantial full disclosure of all relevant property and financial information; or <a id="paragraph-234062" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-576.12/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> There was evident partiality or <span class="dictionary">misconduct</span> by the neutral, prejudicing the rights of any <span class="dictionary">party</span>.
			For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">misconduct</span>&#x201D; includes failure of the neutral to inform the parties in writing at the commencement of the mediation process that: (i) the neutral does not provide legal advice, (ii) any mediated agreement may affect the legal rights of the parties, (iii) each <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the mediation has the opportunity to consult with independent legal <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> at any time and is encouraged to do so, and (iv) each <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the mediation should have any draft agreement reviewed by independent <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> prior to signing the agreement.
			The <span class="dictionary">fact</span> that any provisions of a mediated agreement were such that they could not or would not be granted by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of <span class="dictionary">law</span> or <span class="dictionary">equity</span> is not, in and of itself, grounds for vacating an agreement.
			A <span class="dictionary">motion</span> to vacate under this section shall be made within two years after the mediated agreement is entered into, except that, if predicated upon <span class="dictionary">fraud</span>, it shall be made within two years after these grounds are discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. <a id="paragraph-234063" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-576.12/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1993, c. 905; 2002, c. 718.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
