Source: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=7.77&full=true
Timestamp: 2020-05-27 17:00:25
Document Index: 724064173

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Chapter 7.77 RCW: UNIFORM COLLABORATIVE LAW ACT
RCWs > Title 7 > Chapter 7.77
Chapter 7.77 RCW
7.77.010 Definitions.
7.77.020 Applicability.
7.77.030 Collaborative law participation agreement—Requirements.
7.77.040 Beginning and concluding collaborative law process.
7.77.050 Proceedings pending before tribunal—Status report.
7.77.060 Emergency order.
7.77.070 Approval of agreement by tribunal.
7.77.080 Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm.
7.77.090 Governmental entity as party.
7.77.100 Disclosure of information.
7.77.110 Standards of professional responsibility and mandatory reporting not affected.
7.77.120 Appropriateness of collaborative law process.
7.77.130 Coercive or violent relationship among parties.
7.77.140 Confidentiality of collaborative law communication.
7.77.150 Privilege against disclosure for collaborative law communication—Admissibility—Discovery.
7.77.160 Waiver and preclusion of privilege.
7.77.170 Limits of privilege.
7.77.180 Authority of tribunal in case of noncompliance.
7.77.900 Short title.
7.77.901 Uniformity of application and construction.
7.77.902 Relation to electronic signatures in global and national commerce act.
RCW 7.77.020
(1) This chapter applies to a collaborative law participation agreement that meets the requirements of RCW 7.77.030 signed on or after July 28, 2013.
(2) The use of collaborative law applies only to matters that would be resolved in civil court and may not be used to resolve matters in criminal cases.
[ 2013 c 119 § 3.]
RCW 7.77.030
Collaborative law participation agreement—Requirements.
(c) State the parties' intention to resolve a collaborative matter through a collaborative law process under this chapter;
(2) Parties may agree to include in a collaborative law participation agreement additional provisions not inconsistent with this chapter.
[ 2013 c 119 § 4.]
RCW 7.77.040
Beginning and concluding collaborative law process.
(a) When a party gives notice to other parties in a record that the process is ended; or
(A) Initiates a pleading, motion, order to show cause, or request for a conference with the tribunal without the agreement of all parties as to the relief sought;
(B) Requests that the proceeding be put on the tribunal's active calendar; or
(C) Takes similar contested action requiring notice to be sent to the parties; or
(c) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (7) of this section, when a party discharges a collaborative lawyer or a collaborative lawyer withdraws from further representation of a party.
(7) Notwithstanding the discharge or withdrawal of a collaborative lawyer, a collaborative law process continues, if not later than thirty days after the date that the notice of the discharge or withdrawal of a collaborative lawyer required by subsection (5) of this section is sent to the parties:
(iii) The successor collaborative lawyer confirms the lawyer's representation of a party in the collaborative law process.
[ 2013 c 119 § 5.]
RCW 7.77.050
Proceedings pending before tribunal—Status report.
(1) 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. Parties shall file promptly with the tribunal a notice of the agreement after it is signed. Subject to subsection (3) of this section and RCW 7.77.060 and 7.77.070, the filing operates as an application for a stay of the proceeding.
(2) The parties shall file promptly with the tribunal notice in a record when a collaborative law process concludes. The stay of the proceeding under subsection (1) of this section is lifted when the notice is filed. The notice may not specify any reason for termination of the process.
(3) A tribunal in which a proceeding is stayed under subsection (1) of this section 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 may not include a report, assessment, evaluation, recommendation, finding, or other communication regarding a collaborative law process or collaborative matter.
(4) A tribunal may not consider a communication made in violation of subsection (3) of this section.
(5) A tribunal shall provide parties notice and an opportunity to be heard before dismissing a proceeding in which a notice of collaborative law process is filed based on delay or failure to prosecute.
[ 2013 c 119 § 6.]
RCW 7.77.060
During a collaborative law process, a tribunal may issue emergency orders to protect the health, safety, welfare, or interest of a party or a family or household member, as defined in RCW 26.50.010.
[ 2013 c 119 § 7.]
RCW 7.77.070
Approval of agreement by tribunal.
[ 2013 c 119 § 8.]
RCW 7.77.090
Governmental entity as party.
(1) The disqualification of RCW 7.77.080(1) applies to a collaborative lawyer representing a party that is a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality.
[ 2013 c 119 § 10.]
RCW 7.77.100
Except as provided by law other than this chapter, during the collaborative law process, on the request of another party, a party shall make timely, full, candid, and informal disclosure of information related to the collaborative matter without formal discovery. A party also shall update promptly previously disclosed information that has materially changed. The parties may define the scope of disclosure during the collaborative law process.
[ 2013 c 119 § 11.]
RCW 7.77.110
Standards of professional responsibility and mandatory reporting not affected.
(1) This chapter does not affect the professional responsibility obligations and standards applicable to a lawyer or other licensed professional or relieve a lawyer or other licensed professional from the duty to comply with all applicable professional responsibility obligations and standards.
(2) This chapter does not affect the obligation of a person to report abuse or neglect, abandonment, or exploitation of a child or adult under the law of this state.
(3) Noncompliance with an obligation or prohibition imposed by this chapter does not in itself establish grounds for professional discipline.
[ 2013 c 119 § 12.]
RCW 7.77.140
Confidentiality of collaborative law communication.
Subject to RCW 7.77.110, a collaborative law communication is confidential to the extent agreed by the parties in a signed record or as provided by law of this state other than this chapter.
[ 2013 c 119 § 15.]
RCW 7.77.150
Privilege against disclosure for collaborative law communication—Admissibility—Discovery.
(1) Subject to RCW 7.77.160 and 7.77.170, a collaborative law communication is privileged under subsection (2) of this section, is not subject to discovery, and is not admissible in evidence.
[ 2013 c 119 § 16.]
RCW 7.77.160
(1) A privilege under RCW 7.77.150 may be waived in a record or orally during a proceeding if it is expressly waived by all parties and, in the case of the privilege of a nonparty participant, it is also expressly waived by the nonparty participant.
(2) A person that makes a disclosure or representation about a collaborative law communication which prejudices another person in a proceeding may not assert a privilege under RCW 7.77.150, but this preclusion applies only to the extent necessary for the person prejudiced to respond to the disclosure or representation.
[ 2013 c 119 § 17.]
RCW 7.77.180
Authority of tribunal in case of noncompliance.
(1) If an agreement fails to meet the requirements of RCW 7.77.030, or a lawyer fails to comply with RCW 7.77.120 or 7.77.130, a tribunal may nonetheless find that the parties intended to enter into a collaborative law participation agreement if they:
(2) If a tribunal makes the findings specified in subsection (1) of this section, and the interests of justice require, the tribunal may:
(b) Apply the disqualification provisions of RCW 7.77.040, 7.77.050, 7.77.080, and 7.77.090; and
(c) Apply a privilege under RCW 7.77.150.
[ 2013 c 119 § 19.]
RCW 7.77.900
This chapter may be known and cited as the "uniform collaborative law act."
[ 2013 c 119 § 1.]
RCW 7.77.901
[ 2013 c 119 § 20.]
RCW 7.77.902
This chapter modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal electronic signatures in global and national commerce act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001, et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7003(b).
[ 2013 c 119 § 21.]