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→Family management conferences
===Family management conferences===
A family management conference is an informal process where a judge or family justice manager tries to help the parties narrow down the issues they disagree about, and if possible resolve them. Case management orders, directions, and interim orders can also be made at a family management conference, and even final orders can be made if the parties consent. The Provincial Court includes information about these conferences, and how they're scheduled, when a scheduling notice is sent out. Family management conferences are now routinely required in most types of family law matters at the ''Family Justice registries'' and the ''Parenting Education Program registries'' of the Provincial Court. The requirement to have a family management conference is an improvement over what happened before the new Provincial Court Family Rules took effect in May 2021, as it shows the Court's commitment to finding alternatives to trials. For an explanation of what to expect at a family management conference, see the Provincial Court of BC's own [https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/4904 article on the topic], which Includes includes definitions, steps for preparing yourself, what will happen at the conference, what happens if you need a trial, getting a copy of an Order, and links to more details.
Information about family management conferences in the two kinds of registries mentioned above is available from Legal Aid BC's Family Law website:
* ''[https://family.legalaid.bc.ca/bc-legal-system/if-you-have-go-court/fcc-provincial-court Family management conferences in Provincial Court]'' contains information about general procedure, the orders a judge can make, what you need to do, have, and prepare for, and other tips.
* The ''[https://family.legalaid.bc.ca/bc-legal-system/provincial-court-registries/family-justice-registries Family Justice registries]'' page contains more information specifics on family management conferences in Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Vancouver, especially on what needs to happen before you can get a family management conference appointment (e.g. getting a needs assessment with a family justice counsellor, and taking a parenting course). Parties need to do a couple things before they can get a date for a family management conference. They must go through a ''family needs assessment'' and, if applicable, complete a parenting course if the matter is filed in a Family Justice registry. Parties in a Parenting Education Program registry first need to complete a parenting course, where applicable.
===Family settlement conferences===