Official court procedure Government guide

Steps to attending a conference

Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Source sectionSteps to attending a conference

Source checked2026-08-07

Related explanation

Process

Case conferences

Court: Ontario family courts — court-specific procedure may differ

A case conference is an early case-management and settlement event where the court identifies the issues, explores resolution and gives procedural directions.

A case conference is usually one of the first major court events after the pleadings are in place. It gives the judge an overview of the issues, the parties’ positions, the information still needed and the steps that may move the case toward resolution. The court can make procedural and certain other orders within the authority provided by Rule 17.

Each party normally files a case conference brief rather than simply re-filing all previous material. The brief should make the disputed issues and requested directions understandable. Service, filing and confirmation deadlines are set by the Family Law Rules and may be supplemented by court-specific directions.

Source summary

What this source covers

Official Ontario procedural guide for preparing, serving and filing conference material and attending a family conference.

Key points

Conferences use different briefs

The document package depends on whether the event is a case conference, settlement conference or trial management conference.

Service and filing are part of preparation

Conference material must be prepared, served and filed in accordance with Rule 17 and any applicable court direction or order.

Confirmation is a separate step

Conference attendance may also need to be confirmed.

For exact wording, dates, exceptions and current requirements, read the original source. Binding law and court directions take priority over explanatory material.

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Law and rules

Related official provisions

Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Rule 17 — applies to case conferences including those heard by a DRO pursuant to Rule 17(9).

Parties attending a dispute resolution conference (DRC) must comply with the document requirements under Rule 17, including advance filing of: a Form 17A: Case Conference Brief, which on a motion to change should include: a copy of the previous order that is the subject of the motion to change; documentation supporting the “change in circumstance”; and a description of the change being sought. The deadline for serving and filing Form 17A prior to the DRC is 6 business days for the applicant/moving party, and four business days for the respondent. A form 17F: Confirmation Form must also be filed not later than 2:00 pm three business days prior to the date scheduled for the DRC. Parties must upload their stamped court documents into the appropriate Case Center bundle promptly (a) after receiving confirmation from the court that the documents have been accepted for filing; or (b) with respect to a new case, after receiving an invitation to the Case Center case and bundles. Failure to comply with this direction may result in the matter being adjourned.…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide

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Binding law / official textCentral West Region Practice Direction

APPLICABLE TO ALL CENTRAL WEST CASE CONFERENCES

Case Conference Briefs (Max. 8 pages) Parties must serve and file a Case Conference Brief (Form 17A) in accordance with the Family Law Rules . Case Conference Briefs must not exceed 8 pages. This includes Form 17A and additional pages of facts and arguments attached to the brief as an appendix or schedule. Permissible attachments in addition to the 8-page Brief are those described in the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings at the Superior Court of Justice, and documents required by the Family Law Rules . If the parties do not resolved disclosure prior to the Case Conference, any party seeking disclosure must include in their materials a detailed list of the outstanding disclosure. This is a permissible attachment and is to be in addition to the 8-page brief. The Case Conference Brief should expressly set out any Orders that a party seeks to have the court make at the Case Conference. The Case Conference judge has jurisdiction to make substantive Orders in appropriate cases, where requested, in a Case Conference Brief.…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central West

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Binding law / official textCentral East Region Practice Direction

Rule 57.01 — (6) of the Rules of Civil Procedure requires that, unless the parties have agreed on costs: “every party who intends to seek costs for that step shall give to every other party involved in the same step, and bring to the hearing, a costs outline (Form 57B) not exceeding three pages in length.”

This permits the presiding judge, where feasible, to summarily determine the issue of costs. The overriding principle is that “the court shall devise and adopt the simplest, least expensive, and most expeditious process for fixing costs…” Rule 57.01(7). C. Civil Case Conferences Counsel may request a civil conference with a Judge pursuant to Rule 50.13. A completed Civil Conference Request Form requesting a case conference before a Judge may be sent to CERcivilappointments@ontario.ca . These conferences are ONLY for procedural matters and will not last more than 30 minutes. The time limit will be strictly enforced. The conference may be by telephone or virtually, at the discretion of the Judge. The form must be fully completed, and the terms of the form complied with to be considered. NOTE: Rule 50.13 does not apply to actions governed by the Construction Act: O. Reg. 302/18, s. 10(9). A matter will not be added to the running list or be given a fixed date unless all motion material including responding and reply materials, facta, and compendiums have been filed. D.…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central East

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Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Part H — : Conferences 1. Filing Materials for Conferences a) Font Size and Spacing

b) Restrictions on Filing Conference Materials (Page Limits and Attachments) 2. Requirements to Confer in Advance of a Conference 3. Confirmation Forms for Conferences 4. Early Judicial Intervention and Procedural Direction 5. Combined Case/Settlement Conference 6. Settlement Conferences and Trial Scheduling Conferences 7. Trial Management Conferences 8. Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) Program a) Role and Conduct of the DRO b) Dispute Resolution Conferences (DRCs) c) DRO Conference Reports d) Next Steps after the DRC e) Local Schedules & Procedures Regarding DRO Programs f) Complaints Process

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide

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Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Part H — : Conferences

1. Filing Materials for Conferences Focused materials facilitate better conferences. Unfortunately, many filings include irrelevant or excessive material with voluminous attachments. Counsel and parties must prepare material that is focused and includes only documents directly relevant to the outstanding issues. a) Font Size and Spacing All documents filed for a family conference or motion must be prepared using at least 12-point font and double spacing. b) Restrictions on Filing Conference Materials (Page Limits and Attachments) Case conference briefs shall not exceed 8 pages, pluspermissible attachments (as defined below) and additional documents that are required below or by the Family Law Rules . The 8-page limit includes the brief (Form 17A) and any additional pages of facts or argument attached an appendix or schedule. Settlement conference briefs shall not exceed 12 pages, plus permissible attachments (as defined below) and additional documents that are required below or by theFamily Law Rules .…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide

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Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Rule 17 — (7.1) allows parties to make this request after they have tried to resolve the issues that are in dispute through mediation or a Legal Aid Ontario settlement conference, provided the parties confirm:

The dispute resolution process included a screening for power imbalances and domestic violence; No motions for a temporary order in the case are pending or are contemplated; and Financial disclosure has been provided. Counsel or parties make this request by filing a Form 14B: Motion and a Form 17G: Certificate of Dispute Resolution from each party addressing the above requirements. If the court grants permission, the parties are expected to comply with all requirements relating to a settlement conference, including filing a Form 17C: Settlement Conference Brief and any additional documentation (for example, a Net Family Property Statement, Comparative Net Family Statement, litigation expert reports or Offers to Settle).…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide

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Related subjects:Serve and file documents · Conferences and required steps · Forms and documents