Title 42, JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

(a) General rule.--A civil matter or issue therein may be referred by consent of the parties to one or more appointive judicial officers or other persons for hearing or hearing and disposition. (b) Government units.--Any government unit of this Commonwealth, with the consent of t…

This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Arbitration agreement." An agreement which subjects a family law dispute to arbitration. "Arbitration organization."…

(a) Coverage.--Except as set forth in subsection (b), this subchapter governs arbitration of a family law dispute. (b) Exceptions.--This subchapter does not authorize an arbitrator to make an award which: (1) grants a divorce or annulment; (2) terminates parental rights; (3) gran…

(a) Revised Statutory Arbitration Act.-- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the law applicable to arbitration is Subchapter A.1 (relating to revised statutory arbitration). (2) If there is a conflict between Subchapter A.1 and this subchapter, this subchapter controls. (b) Choice of l…

(a) Requirements.--An arbitration agreement must: (1) be in a record signed by the parties; (2) identify the arbitrator, an arbitration organization or a method of selecting an arbitrator; and (3) identify the family law dispute the parties intend to arbitrate. (b) Effect.--Excep…

A party must initiate arbitration by giving notice to arbitrate to the other party: (1) in the manner specified in the arbitration agreement; or (2) in the absence of a specified manner, under section 7321.3 (relating to notice). Cross References. Section 7376 is referred to in s…

(a) Forum.--A motion for judicial relief under this subchapter must be made to: (1) the court in which a proceeding is pending involving a family law dispute subject to arbitration; or (2) if no proceeding is pending, a court with jurisdiction over the parties and the subject mat…

(a) Qualifications.--Except as set forth in subsection (b) and unless waived in a record by the parties, an arbitrator must: (1) be an attorney at law, a former attorney at law on inactive status or a senior judge; and (2) have successfully completed a combined five hours of inst…

(a) Initial obligation.--Before agreeing to serve as an arbitrator, an individual, after making reasonable inquiry, shall disclose to all parties any known fact a reasonable person would believe is likely to affect: (1) the impartiality of the arbitrator in the arbitration, inclu…

(a) Representation.--A party may: (1) be represented in an arbitration by counsel; (2) be accompanied by an individual who will not be called as a witness or act as an advocate; and (3) participate in the arbitration to the full extent permitted under sections 7321.16 (relating t…

(a) Before selection of arbitrator.--Before an arbitrator is selected and able to act, on motion of a party, the court may enter a temporary order under 23 Pa.C.S. (relating to domestic relations) and the applicable Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. (b) After selection of ar…

(a) (Reserved). (b) Stay.-- (1) This subsection applies if all of the following subparagraphs apply: (i) (Reserved). (ii) Any of the following clauses apply: (A) A party is subject to a protection order. (B) The arbitrator determines there is a reasonable basis to believe a party…

(a) Fairness and expediency.--An arbitrator shall conduct an arbitration in a manner the arbitrator considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the family law dispute. (b) Procedural due process.--An arbitrator shall provide each party a right to be heard, to …

An arbitration hearing need not be recorded unless required by the arbitrator, provided by the arbitration agreement or requested by a party.

(a) Manner.--An arbitrator shall make an award in a record, dated and signed by the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall give notice of the award to each party by a method agreed on by the parties or, if the parties have not agreed on a method, under section 7321.3 (relating to notic…

(a) Motion.--After an arbitrator gives notice under section 7385(a) (relating to award) or makes a correction under section 7387 (relating to correction by arbitrator of unconfirmed award), a party may move the court for an order confirming the award or, when applicable, entry of…

On motion of a party made not later than 20 days after an arbitrator gives notice under section 7385(a) (relating to award), the arbitrator may correct the award: (1) if the award has an evident mathematical miscalculation or an evident mistake in the description of a person, thi…

(a) Grounds.--On motion of a party made not later than 30 days after an arbitrator gives notice under section 7385(a) (relating to award) or makes a correction under section 7387 (relating to correction by arbitrator of unconfirmed award), the court shall correct the award if: (1…

(a) Grounds for amendment.--Subject to subsection (b), on motion of a party, the court shall vacate an unconfirmed award if the moving party establishes that: (1) the award was procured by corruption, fraud or other undue means; (2) there was: (i) evident partiality by the arbitr…

If the meaning or effect of an award confirmed under section 7386 (relating to confirmation of award) is in dispute, the parties may: (1) agree to arbitrate the family law dispute before the original arbitrator or another arbitrator; or (2) proceed under Subchapter C of Chapter 7…

(a) Entry.--On granting an order confirming, vacating without directing a rehearing or amending an award under this subchapter, the court shall enter judgment in conformity with the order. (b) Sealing and redaction.--On motion of a party, the court shall order that a document or …

If a party requests under the laws of this Commonwealth other than this subchapter modification of an award confirmed under section 7386 (relating to confirmation of award) or of a judgment on an award, based on a fact occurring after confirmation: (1) the parties shall proceed u…

(a) This Commonwealth.--A court shall enforce an award confirmed under section 7386 (relating to confirmation of award), including a temporary award, in the manner and to the same extent as any other order or judgment of a court. (b) Other states.--A court shall enforce an arbitr…

(a) Matters.--An appeal may be taken under this subchapter from: (1) an order granting or denying a motion to compel arbitration; (2) an order granting or denying a motion to stay arbitration; (3) an order confirming or denying confirmation of an award; (4) an order correcting an…

(a) Civil liability.--An arbitrator or arbitration organization acting in that capacity in a family law dispute is immune from civil liability to the same extent as a judge of a court of this Commonwealth acting in a judicial capacity. (b) Sovereign immunity.--The immunity provid…

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

To the extent permitted by section 102 of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (Public Law 106-229, 15 U.S.C. § 7002), this subchapter may supersede provisions of that act.

(a) Prospective.--This subchapter applies to arbitration of a family law dispute under an arbitration agreement made on or after the effective date of this section. (b) Retroactive.--If an arbitration agreement was made before the effective date of this section, the parties may a…