Bill > HF2619

This bill establishes the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act, which will govern the arbitration of family law disputes starting July 1, 2026, by outlining the process for parties to agree to arbitration, select arbitrators, and conduct proceedings. An "arbitration agreement" is a contract to resolve family law disputes through arbitration, and an "arbitrator" is the neutral individual making decisions. The Act defines various family law disputes, such as child custody and support, but explicitly excludes matters like divorce, termination of parental rights, and adoptions from arbitration. It requires arbitration agreements to be in writing and signed by the parties, and while agreements made before a dispute are generally valid, those concerning child custody or support disputes arising later are only enforceable if affirmed by the parties after the dispute arises or if approved by a court during a legal proceeding. The bill also details the qualifications and duties of arbitrators, including requirements for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and the process for disqualification, and outlines how courts can compel or terminate arbitration, confirm, correct, or vacate arbitration awards, and enforce them as judgments, with specific provisions for protecting parties and children from harm during the process.