Beginning and concluding collaborative law process.
RCW 7.77.040
in effect(1) A collaborative law process begins when the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement. (2) A tribunal may not order a party to participate in a collaborative law process over that party's objection. (3) A collaborative law process is concluded by a: (a) Resolution of a collaborative matter as evidenced by a signed record; (b) Resolution of a part of the collaborative matter, evidenced by a signed record, in which the parties agree that the remaining parts of the matter will not be resolved in the process; or (c) Termination of the process. (4) A collaborative law process terminates: (a) When a party gives notice to other parties in a record that the process is ended; or (b) When a party: (i) Begins a proceeding related to a collaborative matter without the agreement of all parties; or (ii) In a pending proceeding related to the matter: (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. (5) A party's collaborative lawyer shall give prompt notice to all other parties in a record of a discharge or withdrawal. (6) A party may terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause. (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: (a) The unrepresented party engages a successor collaborative lawyer; and (b) In a signed record: (i) The parties consent to continue the process by reaffirming the collaborative law participation agreement; (ii) The agreement is amended to identify the successor collaborative lawyer; and (iii) The successor collaborative lawyer confirms the lawyer's representation of a party in the collaborative law process. (8) A collaborative law process does not conclude if, with the consent of the parties, a party requests a tribunal to approve a resolution of the collaborative matter or any part thereof as evidenced by a signed record. (9) A collaborative law participation agreement may provide additional methods of concluding a collaborative law process.
(1) A collaborative law process begins when the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement.
(2) A tribunal may not order a party to participate in a collaborative law process over that party's objection.
(3) A collaborative law process is concluded by a:
(a) Resolution of a collaborative matter as evidenced by a signed record;
(b) Resolution of a part of the collaborative matter, evidenced by a signed record, in which the parties agree that the remaining parts of the matter will not be resolved in the process; or
(c) Termination of the process.
(4) A collaborative law process terminates:
(a) When a party gives notice to other parties in a record that the process is ended; or
(b) When a party:
(i) Begins a proceeding related to a collaborative matter without the agreement of all parties; or
(ii) In a pending proceeding related to the matter:
(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.
(5) A party's collaborative lawyer shall give prompt notice to all other parties in a record of a discharge or withdrawal.
(6) A party may terminate a collaborative law process with or without cause.
(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:
(a) The unrepresented party engages a successor collaborative lawyer; and
(b) In a signed record:
(i) The parties consent to continue the process by reaffirming the collaborative law participation agreement;
(ii) The agreement is amended to identify the successor collaborative lawyer; and
(iii) The successor collaborative lawyer confirms the lawyer's representation of a party in the collaborative law process.
(8) A collaborative law process does not conclude if, with the consent of the parties, a party requests a tribunal to approve a resolution of the collaborative matter or any part thereof as evidenced by a signed record.
(9) A collaborative law participation agreement may provide additional methods of concluding a collaborative law process.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=7.77&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026