California family courts use family-centered case resolution to help divorce, legal separation, annulment, and parentage cases move toward a fair and timely result. The process allows the court to monitor progress, identify obstacles, encourage early resolution, and determine what procedural steps are needed next.

A case resolution conference is not ordinarily a trial. The parties should still appear prepared because the court may address deadlines, disclosures, discovery, settlement efforts, and readiness for further proceedings.

The Court Reviews the Case’s Progress

Family courts periodically review pending cases to determine whether important milestones are being met. The court may examine service of process, filing of responses, completion of financial disclosures, the status of custody or support issues, discovery progress, and whether the case is ready for settlement or trial.

If the case is moving appropriately, the court may set the next review or allow the parties to continue completing required work. If it is stalled, the court may establish deadlines or create a case-resolution plan designed to move the matter forward.

Ignoring the conference or arriving without current information can cause delay and make it harder to obtain a useful schedule.

The Conference Is Generally Not an Evidentiary Hearing

A family-centered case resolution conference is heard by a judicial officer but is generally not intended for witness testimony or final resolution of contested factual disputes. Parties and attorneys should be ready to explain their positions, identify unresolved issues, and discuss what remains necessary.

The court may discuss settlement procedures, discovery plans, expert needs, or dates for future hearings. Except for processes that are mandatory, certain alternative dispute-resolution services generally require the parties’ agreement before they are included in the plan.

Parties should not assume that every requested custody, support, or property order can be decided at the conference without proper notice and supporting papers.

Preparation Makes the Conference Productive

Before the appearance, each party should review the docket, existing orders, disclosure status, discovery exchanged, settlement communications, and unresolved legal and factual issues. A concise list of completed tasks and remaining needs can help the court set realistic deadlines.

If one party has not received essential documents, the problem should be identified specifically. Broad statements that the other party is “not cooperating” are less useful than explaining what was requested, when it was due, and why it matters.

Use the Process to Create a Clear Path Forward

The conference can reduce delay when the parties use it to establish priorities. The resulting schedule may address disclosures, discovery, valuation, mediation, settlement conferences, or trial preparation.

All existing orders remain binding during case management unless properly changed. A California family law attorney can assess the status of the case, prepare an accurate progress report, identify the next required steps, and advocate for a practical schedule that protects the client’s rights without unnecessary delay.