§377.14. Appropriateness of collaborative law process
Before a prospective party signs a collaborative family law participation agreement,
a prospective collaborative lawyer shall:
(1) Assess with the prospective party factors that the lawyer reasonably believes
relate to whether a collaborative family law process is appropriate for the prospective party's
family law matter.
(2) Provide the prospective party with information that the lawyer reasonably
believes is sufficient for the party to make an informed decision about the material benefits
and risks of a collaborative family law process as compared to the material benefits and risks
of other reasonably available alternatives for resolving the proposed collaborative family law
matter, such as litigation, mediation, arbitration, or expert evaluation.
(3) Advise the prospective party that:
(a) After signing an agreement, if a party initiates a proceeding or seeks tribunal
intervention in a pending proceeding related to the collaborative family law matter, the
collaborative family law process terminates.
(b) Participation in a collaborative family law process is voluntary and any party has
the right to terminate unilaterally a collaborative family law process with or without cause.
(c) The collaborative lawyer and any lawyer in a law firm with which the
collaborative lawyer is associated shall not appear before a tribunal to represent a party in a
proceeding related to the collaborative family law matter, except as authorized by R.S.
9:377.9(C), 377.10(B), or 377.11(B).
Acts 2024, No. 98, §1.