Law Commons^™

State Legislative Update, J. Matthew Belz, Caleb Lewis, Remington Smith, Peter Wilder

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Collaborative law is a relatively new dispute resolution method by which parties mutually agree to negotiate a settlement in good faith. Either party may terminate the collaborative process at will and present the matter to a court for a decision. Upon termination of the collaborative process, both attorneys must withdraw and cease all participation in the case. The continuing saturation of court dockets and the expense of litigation require the promotion of viable, alternative means to resolve disputes. Collaborative law as authorized under Texas Senate Bill 942 is an especially attractive process because it demands cooperation between the disputing parties …