                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS (§ 8.01-576.4)

The provisions of this chapter apply only to court-referred dispute resolution
services.
		As used in this chapter:
		&#8220;Conciliation&#8221; means a process in which a neutral facilitates
settlement by clarifying issues and serving as an intermediary for negotiations
in a manner which is generally more informal and less structured than mediation.
		&#8220;Court&#8221; means any juvenile and domestic relations district court,
general district court, circuit court, or appellate court, and includes the
judges and any intake specialist to whom the judge has delegated specific
authority under this chapter.
		&#8220;Dispute resolution proceeding&#8221; means any structured process in
which a neutral assists disputants in reaching a voluntary settlement by means
of dispute resolution techniques such as mediation, conciliation, early neutral
evaluation, nonjudicial settlement conferences or any other proceeding leading
to a voluntary settlement conducted consistent with the requirements of this
chapter. The term includes the orientation session.
		&#8220;Dispute resolution program&#8221; means a program that offers dispute
resolution services to the public, which is run by the Commonwealth or any
private for-profit or not-for-profit organization, political subdivision, or
public corporation, or a combination of these.
		&#8220;Dispute resolution services&#8221; includes screening and intake of
disputants, conducting dispute resolution proceedings, drafting agreements and
providing information or referral services.
		&#8220;Intake specialist&#8221; means an individual who is trained in
analyzing and screening cases to assist in determining whether a case is
appropriate for referral to a dispute resolution proceeding.
		&#8220;Mediation&#8221; means a process in which a neutral facilitates
communication between the parties and, without deciding the issues or imposing a
solution on the parties, enables them to understand and to reach a mutually
agreeable resolution to their dispute.
		&#8220;Neutral&#8221; means an individual who is trained or experienced in
conducting dispute resolution proceedings and in providing dispute resolution
services.
		&#8220;Orientation session&#8221; means a preliminary meeting during which the
dispute resolution proceeding is explained to the parties and the parties and
the neutral assess the case and decide whether to continue with a dispute
resolution proceeding or adjudication.

HISTORY: 1993, c. 905; 2002, c. 718.