What Happens at a Pretrial Conference for Child Custody?
During a pretrial conference for child custody, the judge can rule on various issues and provide feedback to parties about the most important ones. This can be helpful in guiding future negotiations. The judge may also indicate that a particular result is likely to occur at the trial.
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During a pretrial conference, a court attorney will present a stipulation of settlement to the judge. The attorney will likely suggest a reduction in the number of issues to be tried at the trial. This may include dividing bank accounts, creating a child visitation schedule, or individual counseling. If the parties agree, the order will take effect immediately.
At the pretrial conference, both parents will have to appear before the judge. In most cases, the judge will assign a trial date. This date will usually be based on the judge’s schedule, but it is possible for a trial date to be moved if the parties can’t reach a settlement.
The judge may also request that the parties present evidence to support their claims. This includes documents such as logs of interactions with the other parent and calendars showing when the other parent cares for the child. It’s also a good idea to prepare witnesses to testify. It is important to keep the testimony honest, but avoid giving too much information.
A pre-trial conference for child custody is also a good time to make a plan of action. If the parties can’t settle, the judge may order a mediator to assist them in resolving the issues. This is a great way to save money and aggravation. The mediator is a volunteer attorney, who aims to help the parties work out a temporary agreement. This can be followed up with additional conferences to settle remaining issues.
The judge will also want to know about your proposed parenting plan and what evidence you’ve got. He or she may also ask questions about your expert witnesses.
If the parties can’t reach an agreement, the judge may ask for a special hearing. This is similar to the Lincoln Hearing, which is held without the child in attendance. The judge will make a decision based on the facts of the case. In some cases, the judge will make a decision on the spot. Other judges will require witnesses to prepare for trial.
At a pretrial conference, the judge will usually offer feedback on the most important issues, such as the most likely trial result. The court may also order the parties to attend further conferences to settle other issues. This could include co-parenting counseling or exchanging documentation that is requested. In some cases, the judge will order a custody evaluation. These are important, as the court will want to know about the future medical costs and other medical procedures that the parties may require.
Pretrial conferences for child custody are meant to encourage parties to negotiate more rationally. It is a good idea to attend a pre-trial conference with your lawyer to make sure you don’t miss any important information. This will ensure that the court will be aware of all the pertinent information.