§ 1-646.  Proceedings pending before tribunal; status report.

(a) Persons in a proceeding pending before a tribunal may sign a collaborative law participation agreement to seek to resolve a collaborative matter related to the proceeding. The parties shall file promptly with the tribunal a notice of the collaborative law participation agreement after it is signed. Subject to subsection (c) of this section and G.S. 1-647 and G.S. 1-648, the filing operates as a stay of the proceeding as to the parties in the collaborative law process as long as the parties are in that process.

(b) The parties shall file promptly with the tribunal notice in a record when a collaborative law process concludes. The stay of the proceeding under subsection (a) of this section is lifted when the notice is filed. The notice shall not specify any reason for termination of the collaborative law process.

(c) A tribunal in which a proceeding is stayed under subsection (a) of this section may require the parties and collaborative lawyers to provide a status report on the collaborative law process and the proceeding. A status report may include only information on whether the collaborative law process is ongoing or concluded. It shall not include a report, assessment, evaluation, recommendation, finding, or other communication regarding a collaborative law process or collaborative matter.

(d) A tribunal shall not consider a communication made in violation of subsection (c) of this section.

(e) A tribunal shall provide parties notice and an opportunity to be heard before dismissing a proceeding in which a notice of collaborative law process is filed based on delay or failure to prosecute. (2020-65, s. 1.)