<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78455</law_id><section_number>8.01-581.22</section_number><catch_line>Confidentiality; exceptions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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="21.2">Mediation</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>All memoranda, work products and other <span class="dictionary">materials</span> contained in the <span class="dictionary">case files</span> of a <span class="dictionary">mediator</span> or <span class="dictionary">mediation program</span> are confidential. Any communication made in or in connection with the mediation, which relates to the controversy being mediated, including screening, intake, and scheduling a mediation, whether made to the <span class="dictionary">mediator</span>, <span class="dictionary">mediation program</span> staff, to a <span class="dictionary">party</span>, or to any other <span class="dictionary">person</span>, is confidential. However, a written mediated agreement signed by the parties shall not be confidential, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing.
		Confidential <span class="dictionary">materials</span> and communications are not subject to disclosure in <span class="dictionary">discovery</span> or in any judicial or administrative proceeding except (i) where all parties to the mediation agree, in writing, to <span class="dictionary">waive</span> the confidentiality, (ii) in a subsequent <span class="dictionary">action</span> between the <span class="dictionary">mediator</span> or <span class="dictionary">mediation program</span> and a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the mediation for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> arising out of the mediation, (iii) statements, memoranda, <span class="dictionary">materials</span> and other tangible <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, otherwise subject to <span class="dictionary">discovery</span>, which were not prepared specifically for use in and actually used in the mediation, (iv) where a threat to inflict bodily injury is made, (v) where communications are intentionally used to plan, attempt to commit, or commit a <span class="dictionary">crime</span> or conceal an ongoing <span class="dictionary">crime</span>, (vi) where an ethics complaint is made against the <span class="dictionary">mediator</span> by a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the mediation to the extent necessary for the complainant to prove misconduct and the <span class="dictionary">mediator</span> to defend against such complaint, (vii) where communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of misconduct or malpractice filed against a <span class="dictionary">party</span>&#x2019;s legal representative based on conduct occurring during a mediation, (viii) where communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove any of the grounds listed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Vacating orders and agreements" href="/8.01-581.26/">8.01-581.26</a> in a proceeding to vacate a mediated agreement, or (ix) as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span> or rule. The use of attorney work product in a mediation shall not result in a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of the attorney work product <span class="dictionary">privilege</span>.</p></section></text><history>1988, cc. 623, 857; 2002, c. 718; 2013, cc. 283, 383.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
