Prepare for your trial management conference

A judge schedules a when they think you and your partner can't resolve your issues and your case has to go to trial.

The goal of a trial management conference is to get you and your partner ready for your trial and to try one last time to settle the case.

Rule 17: Conferences tells you what you need to do to prepare for your trial management conference and what happens at one.

Fill out your forms

In the Ontario Court of Justice, you fill out Form 17E: Trial Management Conference Brief. This form asks for some of the same information as the earlier briefs you filled out for your and .

In the Superior Court of Justice and the Family Court of the Superior Court of Justice, you must :

In both the trial management conference brief and the trial scheduling form, you have to tell the judge:

  • who you plan to call as witnesses
  • what issues your witnesses will speak about
  • how long you think each will take

You also have to answer some procedural questions like:

  • do you and your partner agree on the facts of your case
  • have you and your partner shared all relevant documents

And you have to give the court updated financial statements. See Update your financial statements below to find out what you have to do.

Make copies of your completed documents for you and your partner.

Serve and file your forms

You must your partner with a copy of your documents and an updated table of contents at least 6 days before the date of your trial management conference. You serve them by or . Serve your documents below explains how to do this.

See Count time below to understand how to calculate days or time correctly. This is important because court staff may not accept your documents if you haven't followed the rules.

After you serve your partner, you must file your documents and Form 6B: Affidavit of Service with the court. This means they're added to your court file. You must do this at least 4 days before the conference date.

You can file your forms documents with the court online or in person. File your court forms and documents below explains how to do this.

Reach out to your partner

Starting May 1, 2022, you must try to reach out to your partner before your trial management conference, if you can, about things like:

  • sharing financial information
  • procedural matters, such as timelines
  • resolving your issues

You can do this in person, in writing, or with the help of a lawyer.

If you don't do this, your trial management conference may be postponed or you may have to pay your partner's legal costs.

But you might not have to do this in some situations. For example, if there is a no- or there are concerns about by one partner who doesn't have a lawyer.

Confirm your court date

You have to tell the court that you will be at your trial management conference. Confirm your court date below explains how to do this.

If you need an interpreter or any special arrangement because of a disability, see Ask for a special arrangement below.

How to:

Ask for a special arrangement

Confirm your court date

Count time

Serve your documents

Update your continuing record

Update your financial statements

Reviewed: March 20, 2023
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