Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
The legislation, which took effect on Oct. 1, can help families reach out-of-court resolutions for divorce and child custody matters. WESTPORT, CT — The Uniform Collaborative Law Act, which gives families in divorce and child custody cases a formal framework to resolve disputes outside of court, recently took effect, and its passage was spearheaded by a Westport attorney. The law, known as Public Act 25-153, took effect on Oct. 1, making Connecticut the 27th state to enact the measure, which is intended to standardize how collaborative law is practiced and understood across the state’s judicial system. Westport family law attorney Jill Bicks said in a statement to Patch that she fought hard for passage of the law, viewing its enactment "primarily as a consumer and child protection matter." "Collaborative Law has been flourishing in our state, but there is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding by the public as to what it is," Bicks said. The Uniform Collaborative Law Act, or UCLA, outlines a process in which parties work with their attorneys and other professionals to reach settlements without litigation. Supporters say it provides families with a structured and less adversarial alternative to traditional court proceedings. Bicks, who has practiced law for more than 30 years, helped lead the effort to pass the legislation on behalf of the Connecticut Council of Nonadversarial Divorce, or CCND, and worked with state Sen. Ceci Maher, who sponsored the bill. "This is a landmark moment for collaborative divorce in Connecticut," said CCND President Rosemarie Ferrante. "The enactment of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act marks a powerful affirmation of the principles CCND has championed for years. This moment represents more than just legislative success—it is a cultural shift. With the law now part of Connecticut’s legal framework, our state is sending a clear message: families deserve access to private, structured, child-centered alternatives to litigation. These new laws reinforce CCND’s mission to offer dignified, respectful, and non-adversarial processes for families." Supporters say the new framework defines collaborative law as a team-based approach that includes legal, financial, and mental health professionals who assist clients in reaching agreements. They say the model treats divorce as a major life transition rather than an adversarial conflict, especially in cases involving children. According to Bicks, the new law is a step toward consumer and child protection, saying it will help clarify misconceptions about collaborative law, because it makes several key distinctions clear:
