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Difference between revisions of "Rules Promoting Settlement in Family Matters"

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==Supreme Court==
==Supreme Court==
===Request another judicial case conference===
===Request another judicial case conference===
A judicial case conference, usually referred to as a JCC, is a relatively informal, off-the-record, private meeting between the parties, their lawyers and a master or judge in a courtroom. A JCC must be held in all contested family law court proceedings. Further information about JCCs can be found in the section [[Case Conferences in a Family Law Matter]] of this Chapter.
A judicial case conference, usually referred to as a JCC, is a relatively informal, off-the-record, private meeting between the parties, their lawyers, and a master or judge in a courtroom. A JCC must be held in all contested family law court proceedings. Further information about JCCs can be found in the section [[Case Conferences in a Family Law Matter]] of this Chapter.
The initial JCC is usually held early on in the proceeding, but parties may request an additional JCC at any time, regardless if the parties have already had one.   
 
Under [http://canlii.ca/t/53h1z Rule 7-1(15) of the Supreme Court Family Rules] the court has very broad powers at JCC including the following to promote settlement:
The initial JCC is usually held early on in the proceeding, but parties may request an additional JCC at any time, even if the parties already had one.   
*identify the issues that are in dispute and those that are not in dispute and explore ways in which the issues in dispute may be resolved without recourse to trial;
Under [http://canlii.ca/t/53h1z Rule 7-1(15) of the Supreme Court Family Rules] the court has very broad powers at a JCC, including the following, to promote settlement:
*mediate any of the issues in dispute;
*identify the issues that are in dispute and those that are not in dispute and explore ways in which the issues in dispute may be resolved without recourse to trial,
*mediate any of the issues in dispute,
*without hearing witnesses, give a non-binding opinion on the probable outcome of a hearing or trial.
*without hearing witnesses, give a non-binding opinion on the probable outcome of a hearing or trial.


===Request a settlement conference===
===Request a settlement conference===
Settlement conferences are available in the Supreme Court at the request of both parties. They are usually not mandatory but can be ordered by a judge or master. They are relatively informal, off-the-record, private meetings between the parties, their lawyers and a master or judge in a courtroom for the purpose of exploring all possibilities of settlement (See [http://canlii.ca/t/53h1z Rule 7-2 of the of the Supreme Court Family Rules]). For more information about the purpose and scheduling a settlement conference see the section [[Case Conferences in a Family Matter | Case Conferences]] in this Chapter.
Settlement conferences are available in the Supreme Court at the request of both parties. They are usually not mandatory but can be ordered by a judge or master. They are relatively informal, off-the-record, private meetings between the parties, their lawyers, and a master or judge in a courtroom for the purpose of exploring all possibilities of settlement (See [http://canlii.ca/t/53h1z Rule 7-2 of the of the Supreme Court Family Rules]). For more information about the purpose and scheduling of a settlement conference, see the section on [[Case Conferences in a Family Matter | Case Conferences]], in this Chapter.


===Serve a Notice to Mediate===
===Serve a Notice to Mediate===
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A Notice to Mediate must be served at least 90 days after the Response is filed and 90 days before the trial date.  
A Notice to Mediate must be served at least 90 days after the Response is filed and 90 days before the trial date.  
The parties have to attend mediation unless one of the following exceptions applies:
The parties have to attend mediation unless one of the following exceptions applies:
*There has already been a mediation session ;
*there has already been a mediation session,
*There is a protection order against one party;
*there is a protection order against one party,
*The mediator advises the participants the mediation is not appropriate or that the mediation process will not be productiveor
*the mediator advises the participants the mediation is not appropriate or that the mediation process will not be productive, or
*The court orders that a party is exempt because in the court’s opinion it is impracticable or materially unfair to require the party to attend.
*the court orders that a party is exempt because, in the court’s opinion, it is impracticable or materially unfair to require the party to attend.
The [http://canlii.ca/t/52325 Notice to Mediate (Family) Regulations] provide the guidelines for proceeding with the mediation. The parties mutually select a mediator within 14 days after service of the Notice to Mediate. If the parties cannot agree, any party may apply to a roster organization for the appointment of a mediator. The process for the appointment of a mediator is set out in section 8 of the [http://canlii.ca/t/52325 Notice to Mediate (Family) Regulations]  
 
For more information about the Notice to Mediate see the Legal Services Society of British Columbia fact sheet on [https://familylaw.lss.bc.ca/separation-divorce/getting-divorce/making-mediation-happen-family-law-case-supreme-court Making Mediation happen in a family law case in Supreme Court].
The [http://canlii.ca/t/52325 Notice to Mediate (Family) Regulation] provides the guidelines for proceeding with the mediation. The parties mutually select a mediator within 14 days after service of the Notice to Mediate. If the parties cannot agree, any party may apply to a roster organization for the appointment of a mediator. The process for the appointment of a mediator is set out in section 8 of the [http://canlii.ca/t/52325 Notice to Mediate (Family) Regulation]  
For more information about the Notice to Mediate see the Legal Services Society of British Columbia information page on [https://familylaw.lss.bc.ca/separation-divorce/getting-divorce/making-mediation-happen-family-law-case-supreme-court Making Mediation happen in a family law case in Supreme Court].


===Costs===
===Costs===