I. The terms of a collaborative law participation agreement shall be considered a binding contract and shall be enforceable by the trial court.
II. Any agreements signed by the parties during the collaborative process are binding upon the parties in the same manner as they are in other family law proceedings. The trial court fully retains all rights and duties to ensure that the agreements reached are fair and reasonable to all before being approved by the court.

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 490-J:8

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

III. Agreements reached during the collaborative process which are not signed by all parties shall not be binding and shall be considered part of settlement discussions only.