                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROCEEDINGS PENDING BEFORE TRIBUNAL; STATUS REPORT (§ 20-172)

A. Persons in a proceeding pending before a tribunal may sign a collaborative
law participation agreement to seek to resolve a collaborative matter related to
the proceeding. The parties shall file promptly with the tribunal a notice of
the collaborative law participation agreement after it is signed. Subject to
subsection D and &#xA7;&#xA7; 20-173 and 20-174, the filing operates as an
application for a stay of the proceeding.

B. In the event that a stay is not granted by the tribunal, the proceeding shall
be nonsuited by the parties before the collaborative law process may continue.

C. In the event that a stay of the proceeding is granted by the tribunal, the
parties shall promptly file with the tribunal a notice in a record when their
collaborative law process concludes. A stay of the proceeding under subsection A
is lifted when the notice is filed. The notice shall not specify any reason for
termination of the process.

D. A tribunal in which a proceeding is stayed under subsection A may require the
parties and collaborative lawyers to provide a status report on the
collaborative law process and the proceeding. A status report may include only
information on whether the process is ongoing or concluded. It shall not include
a report, assessment, evaluation, recommendation, finding, or other
communication regarding a collaborative law process or collaborative law matter.

E. A tribunal shall not consider a communication made in violation of subsection
D.

F. A tribunal shall provide parties notice and an opportunity to be heard before
dismissing a proceeding in which a notice of collaborative process is filed
based on delay or failure to prosecute.

HISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.