Arbitration agreement. (a) An arbitration agreement shall: (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) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agreement in a record to arbitrate a family law dispute that arises between the parties before, at the time, or after the agreement is made is valid and enforceable as any other contract and irrevocable except on a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract. (c) An agreement to arbitrate a child-related dispute that arises between the parties after the agreement is made is unenforceable unless: (1) The parties affirm the agreement in a record after the dispute arises, or (2) The agreement was entered during a family law proceeding and the Superior Court approved or incorporated the agreement in an order issued in the proceeding. (d) If a party objects to arbitration on the ground the arbitration agreement is unenforceable or the agreement does not include a family law dispute, the Superior Court shall sued in the proceeding. (d) If a party objects to arbitration on the ground the arbitration agreement is unenforceable or the agreement does not include a family law dispute, the Superior Court shall decide whether the agreement is enforceable or includes the family law dispute. (Mar. 10, 2023, D.C. Law 24-286, § 2(b), 70 DCR 526.)
District of Columbia Legal Code