SB 21-143: Uniform Collaborative Law Act

• Establishes Colorado's "Uniform Collaborative Law Act" as a new framework for resolving family and domestic relations disputes without court intervention through collaborative law processes.

• Requires parties to sign a written collaborative law participation agreement before beginning the process, which must identify the parties, their collaborative lawyers, and describe the matter to be resolved.

• Disqualifies collaborative lawyers and their law firm associates from representing parties in court proceedings related to the collaborative matter, except to seek court approval of agreements or protect health and safety in emergencies.

• Protects collaborative communications as privileged and confidential, preventing their use in later court proceedings unless parties agree otherwise, with exceptions for abuse/neglect, criminal activity, threats, and final settlement agreements.

• Creates duties for collaborative lawyers to assess appropriateness of the process, inform parties of risks and alternatives, make reasonable inquiry into domestic violence, and require full disclosure of information between parties without formal discovery.

• Allows pending court proceedings to stay when parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement, with the stay lifted upon notice that the process concludes, and effective January 1, 2022.