Prepare for and attend the FCC, if required
If the judge orders a Family Case Conference (FCC), both of you must attend, with or without your lawyers. If one of you doesn't attend, the case conference judge can make orders in that person's absence.
See Checklist for a Family Case Conference for information about preparing for the FCC.
- Dress appropriately.
- Be as calm as possible and act politely in your former spouse's presence.
- Address the judge as "Your Honour."
What will happen at the FCC
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The conference usually takes place in a conference room, and the judge sits at a round table with you.
- A judge can ask direct questions of either of you and will try to find out information that might help resolve conflicts or reduce the amount of trial time needed to have conflicts resolved by a judge's decision. The judge can act as a mediator, so this is a great opportunity to have a judge help you settle your issues without going to a trial.
- Everything that happens at an FCC is confidential. If evidence is necessary to decide on an issue, there'll have to be a hearing set. An FCC isn't the place for making decisions about substantial issues if you don't both agree.
The judge can make orders at the FCC. These orders might:
- send you to a family dispute resolution professional, like a mediator, family justice counsellor, or parenting coordinator, with or without your agreement, and at your expense, or
- refer your child to counselling, with or without your agreement, and at your expense.
For a full list of the things a judge can order at an FCC, see Family Case Conferences in Provincial Court.
Sometimes, no meaningful discussions happen at the FCC because one person is unable or unwilling to discuss the issues or to compromise. If it becomes clear that nothing will be settled at an FCC, the judge may try instead to determine what matters need to be cleared up before the case can proceed to trial and to help both of you get organized for the trial.