Settlement Conference Question

[dadtotheend]

The judge is only likely to make procedural orders at a Settlement Conference. It would be unusual for a support order to be made there, but it could happen at a motion.

[About_Time]

Can the judge make orders with respect to CS, SS, custody, etc. at a Settlement Conference, or is it like the Case Conference where they simply advise and mediate?

Beyond the practical concerns re: my ability to pay my lawyer, my main concern is that if an order is made giving her spousal, then there is absoluetly no incentive for her to mediate. She'll drag the entire thing out through the courts from then on in. The only leverage I have right now is that she needs spousal pretty much immediately - if that's given to her by the judge then I'm powerless.

[logicalvelocity]

Its better for case management get get beyond Settlement Conference stage so that the matter can proceed to trial if necessary. Once a settlement conference has been held, leave of the court is mandatory to bring forth any relief by way of motion. Don't leave yourself in limbo, move the matter forward. If the other side is serious about reasonable settlement then a trial can be avoided.


lv

[About_Time]

So I got a call from my lawyer's office today asking for dates upon which they can book a settlement conference. They are not getting any response from the lawyer for the bio-father of my son, and very slow responses from my ex's legal aid lawyer. Their hope is that booking a settlement conference will get them of their butts to do something.

My concern however, is that I don't want to do another settlement conference at this stage. Each time we have one, it costs me over a grand in legal fees. My ex is on legal aid so the threat of a conference isn't exactly going to scare her into action. My fear is that setting the date may actually IMPEDE negotiations, because she'll just say "screw it, I'll wait until the conference and we'll deal with it there".

In my conversations with the ex, she seems more eager to get something settled because she needs money for school. It's not in her best interest to let this slide forever. My hope is that we can get most of the issues settled prior to any conference via negotiation, or else we are just going to have to be endlessly going to them forever. At the same time, we can't negotiate if they are dodging us.

I don't know - it's all very confusing. I'm not sure what the best strategy here is... opinions would be appreciated. The lawyer's office seemed adamant that this was the way to go, but it seems to me like we are provoking a fight with a glass jaw.