July 10, 2025

Please see the statewide chart of enactment of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act (UCLA), with links to state laws or rules. As discussed below (see History), Collaborative practice started in 1990, evolved, and grew. In 2010, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws finalized the Uniform Collaborative Law Rules and Uniform Collaborative Law Act. Six years later, Florida joined 13 other states that had formalized the collaborative option to resolve divorces. Florida’s version in the Uniform Collaborative Law Process Act works with Florida’s Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.745, Florida’s Rule 4-1.19, Rules Regulating the Florida Bar, and the Florida Supreme Court’s collaborative divorce forms. UCLA: Recent State Adoptions New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia followed suit. In 2021, Colorado and New Hampshire became the 21st and 22nd states (plus the District of Columbia) to adopt the Uniform Collaborative Law Act (UCLA). In 2024), Mississippi adopted the Uniform Collaborative Law Rule and Kentucky and Louisiana adopted the UCLA. This year (2025), Oklahoma and Connecticut adopted the UCLA. That means, by statute or rule, 28 jurisdictions – more than half the US – have adopted the UCLA. FEBRUARY 6, 2024: THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION APPROVES THE UNIFORM COLLABORATIVE PROCESS ACT In February 2024, the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association (ABA) recognized this continuing movement of states in the US to adopt the UCLA. The American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates adopted Resolution #703 on February 5, 2024: “RESOLUTION RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association approves the Uniform Collaborative Law Rules and Uniform Collaborative Law Act, promulgated by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2010, as appropriate Rules or an appropriate Act for those states desiring to adopt the specific substantive law suggested therein.” ABA House of Delegates, Resolution No. 703, Adopted February 5, 2024 Designer History of the Collaborative Movement: Before the UCLA In 1990, the collaborative concept began as a spark, with one man. Veteran Minnesota family lawyer Stuart Webb admired when family law attorneys worked most creatively and effectively. That was in settlement, when they jointly solved issues, rather than argued positions. He realized, instead of warring in court, people could work with motivated professionals constructively and privately. The “collaborative” team could help couples resolve difficult family law problems. At the same time, California professionals were developing a team approach to resolving legal issues, including divorces. Great minds kept thinking and thinkers kept working. The spark and movement spread across Florida, the United States and worldwide. Now, 25,000 collaboratively trained lawyers, mental health, financial, and other professionals do collaborative work. They make up 200 collaborative practice groups across 24 countries. These professionals understand Collaborative contract power!