District Of Columbia § 16-4002 - Definitions.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 16-4002 — Definitions., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 16-4002. Definitions.
16-4002For the purposes of this chapter, the term
“Collaborative law communication” means a statement, whether oral or in a record, or verbal or nonverbal, that:
Is made to conduct, participate in, continue, or reconvene a collaborative law process; and
Occurs after the parties sign a collaborative law participation agreement and before the collaborative law process is concluded.
“Collaborative law participation agreement” means an agreement by persons to participate in a collaborative law process.
“Collaborative law process” means a procedure intended to resolve a collaborative matter without intervention by a tribunal in which persons:
Sign a collaborative law participation agreement; and
Are represented by collaborative lawyers.
“Collaborative lawyer” means a lawyer who represents a party in a collaborative law process.
“Collaborative matter” means a dispute, transaction, claim, problem, or issue for resolution, including a dispute, claim, or issue in a proceeding, which is described in a collaborative law participation agreement and arises under the family or domestic relations law of the District of Columbia, including:
Marriage, divorce, dissolution, annulment, and property distribution;
Child custody, visitation, and parenting time;
Alimony, maintenance, and child support;
Adoption;
Parentage; and
Premarital, marital, and post-marital agreements.
“Family member” means a person:
With whom an individual shares or has shared a mutual residence; or
Who is related to an individual by blood, adoption, or legal custody; or
Who is or was married to, in a domestic partnership with, divorced or separated from, or in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with an individual.
“Law firm” means:
Lawyers who practice law together in a partnership, professional corporation, sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or association; and
Lawyers employed in a legal services organization, or the legal department of a corporation or other organization, or the legal department of a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality.
“Nonparty participant” means a person, other than a party and the party’s collaborative lawyer, that participates in a collaborative law process.
“Party” means a person that signs a collaborative law participation agreement and whose consent is necessary to resolve a collaborative matter.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
“Proceeding” means a proceeding before a tribunal, including related prehearing and post-hearing motions, conferences, and discovery.
“Prospective party” means a person that discusses with a prospective collaborative lawyer the possibility of signing a collaborative law participation agreement.
“Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
“Related to a collaborative matter” means involving the same parties, transaction or occurrence, nucleus of operative fact, dispute, claim, or issue as the collaborative matter.
“Sign” means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:
To execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or
To attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.
“Tribunal” means a court, administrative agency, or other body acting in an adjudicative capacity that, after presentation of evidence or legal argument, has jurisdiction to render a decision affecting a party’s interests in a matter.
Annotations
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 16-4002
What does D.C. Code § 16-4002 cover?
Section 16-4002 ("Definitions.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 16-4002?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 16-4002" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 16-4002 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.