Family Law Settlement Conference in Toronto: What to Expect

The Family Law Settlement Conference in Toronto is a last opportunity for the litigants to settle the matter without going to a trial.

The goals of a Family Law Settlement Conference in Toronto include the following (*Family Law Rules, *Rule 17(5)):

• Exploring the chances of settling the family law case;
• Settling the issues that are in dispute;
• Ensuring disclosure of the relevant evidence;
• Settling or narrowing any issues relating to any expert evidence or reports on which the parties intend to rely at trial;
• Noting admissions that may simplify the case;
• If possible, obtaining a view of how the court might decide the case;
• Considering any other matter that may help in a quick and just conclusion of the case;
• If the case is not settled, identifying the witnesses and other evidence to be used at trial, estimating the time needed for trial and scheduling the case for trial; and
• Organizing a trial management conference, or holding a trial management conference where appropriate.

The Family Law Settlement Conference in Toronto is generally presided over by the case management judge. A case management judge in family law** **monitors and manages the progress of a family law court case as it moves through the system. The case management judge is not the trial judge.

One of the judge’s significant roles at a Family Law Settlement Conference in Toronto is to provide his or her view of how a trial judge may decide the case. This provides litigants with some visibility as to what may happen should they decide to continue on to a trial.

Call Krol & Krol at 905.707.3370 for a consultation to learn about your Family Law Settlement Conference in Toronto.