CT SB01283

Establishes the Connecticut Uniform Collaborative Law Act effective October 1, 2025, creating a formal framework for resolving family law disputes—including divorce, child custody, alimony, adoption, and property distribution—without court intervention

Requires parties to sign a written collaborative law participation agreement identifying their lawyers and committing to resolve matters cooperatively; tribunals cannot order participation over a party's objection

Disqualifies collaborative lawyers from representing their clients in court proceedings related to the collaborative matter if the process fails, with limited exceptions for emergency protective orders and seeking court approval of agreements

Establishes that collaborative law communications are privileged, confidential, and generally inadmissible in court, with exceptions for threats of violence, criminal activity, professional misconduct claims, and child/adult abuse cases

Mandates that lawyers assess whether collaborative law is appropriate for each client, including screening for history of coercive or violent relationships between parties before and throughout the process