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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58931</law_id><section_number>8.01-581.26</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>8.01-581.22</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="21.2">Mediation</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 <span class="dictionary">mediation</span> 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-216110" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-581.26/#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-216111" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-581.26/#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 <span class="dictionary">mediator</span>, 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 <span class="dictionary">mediator</span> to inform the parties at the commencement of the <span class="dictionary">mediation</span> process that: (i) the <span class="dictionary">mediator</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">mediation</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">mediation</span> should have any draft agreement reviewed by independent <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> prior to signing the agreement. <a id="paragraph-216112" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-581.26/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, c. 718.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
