British Columbia · Supreme Court

The settlement conference in BC Supreme Court family cases.

In about 3 minutes, this page sets out how a settlement conference comes about under Rule 7-2 of the Supreme Court Family Rules, what the rule says happens at one, who presides, and how it differs from the other Supreme Court conferences and from the Provincial Court family settlement conference.

The key steps and deadlines
  1. Held only if the parties jointly request one by requisition in Form F17, or a judge or associate judge directs one (Rule 7-2 (1)).
  2. Held in private and without hearing witnesses, to explore all possibilities of settlement (Rule 7-2 (1)).
  3. Recorded, but the recording is not available or usable without a court order (Rule 7-2 (2)).
  4. The judge who presides does not preside at the trial unless all parties consent (Rule 7-2 (3)).
  5. A case planning conference may require a settlement conference (Rule 7.1-3 (1) (o)).

Rules current to October 27, 2026 (Supreme Court Family Rules, B.C. Reg. 169/2009, as amended). Last reviewed November 2, 2026.

What this page does not do.

It describes what Rule 7-2 provides. It does not advise whether to seek a settlement conference, what to propose or accept, or how to prepare a settlement position. It is legal information, not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer–client relationship.

On this page

  1. How one comes about
  2. What happens
  3. How it compares
  4. Common problems, stated neutrally
  5. Questions people actually ask
  6. Where this comes from
Step one

1How a settlement conference comes about.

Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 7-2 (1)

“If, at any stage of a family law case, the parties jointly request a settlement conference by filing a requisition in Form F17 or a judge or associate judge directs the parties to attend a settlement conference, the parties must attend before a judge or associate judge who must, in private and without hearing witnesses, explore all possibilities of settlement of the issues that are outstanding.”

The rule gives two routes: a joint requisition by the parties, or a direction from a judge or associate judge. It does not provide for one party to obtain a settlement conference alone by requisition. A case planning conference can make an order requiring a settlement conference (Rule 7.1-3 (1) (o)).

Step two

2What the rule says happens.

  1. Rule 7-2 (1)The parties attend before a judge or associate judge, who explores all possibilities of settlement of the outstanding issues, in private and without hearing witnesses.
  2. Rule 7-2 (2)The proceedings are recorded, but no part of the recording may be made available to or used by any person without a court order.
  3. Rule 7-2 (3)A judge who has presided at a settlement conference must not preside at the trial, unless all parties consent.
Step three

3How it differs from the other conferences.

  1. Judicial case conferenceAny party may request one at any time by Form F19 (Rule 7-1 (1), (7)); it can make consent and procedural orders and give a non-binding opinion (Rule 7-1 (15)). JCC →
  2. Case planning conferenceRequested by a party after a JCC by Form F19.2 (Rule 7.1-1 (1)); ends with a Form F19.4 case plan order. CPC, with a comparison table →
  3. Trial management conferenceHeld before trial under Rule 14-3. Setting a trial →
Different court, different conference.

The Provincial Court has its own family settlement conference under Part 8 of the Provincial Court Family Rules, with its own rules. The Provincial Court family settlement conference →

Watch out for

Common problems, stated neutrally.

  1. Expecting to book it alone: Rule 7-2 (1) requires a joint Form F17 requisition or a court direction.
  2. Bringing witnesses: Rule 7-2 (1) provides that the conference is held without hearing witnesses.
  3. Confusing it with the Provincial Court family settlement conference: different court, different rules.
  4. Assuming the settlement judge will hear the trial: Rule 7-2 (3) bars it unless all parties consent.
FAQ

Questions people actually ask.

How do you get a settlement conference in BC Supreme Court?

Under Rule 7-2 (1) of the Supreme Court Family Rules, a settlement conference takes place if the parties jointly request one by filing a requisition in Form F17, or if a judge or associate judge directs the parties to attend one. A case planning conference may also order one under Rule 7.1-3 (1) (o).

Can one party ask for a settlement conference alone?

Rule 7-2 (1) provides for a joint request by the parties in Form F17, or a direction by a judge or associate judge. It does not provide for one party to obtain a settlement conference alone by requisition.

Is a settlement conference private?

Rule 7-2 (1) provides that the judge or associate judge explores settlement in private and without hearing witnesses. Rule 7-2 (2) provides that the proceedings are recorded but no part of the recording may be made available or used without a court order.

Will the settlement conference judge hear the trial?

Rule 7-2 (3) provides that a judge who has presided at a settlement conference must not preside at the trial unless all parties consent.

Official sources

Where this comes from.

  1. Supreme Court Family Rules, B.C. Reg. 169/2009, consolidated (table of contents) — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_00
  2. Supreme Court Family Rules, Parts 1 to 9: Rules 7-1, 7-2 and Part 7.1 — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_01
  3. Supreme Court Family Rules, Parts 10 to 14: Rule 14-3 — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_02
  4. Supreme Court Family Rules, Appendix A: Form F17 Requisition — General — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_04
  5. Province of British Columbia, Supreme Court Family Rules forms — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/courthouse-services/documents-forms-records/court-forms/sup-family-forms

This page provides general legal and procedural information for British Columbia. It describes what the Supreme Court Family Rules provide. It does not advise on settlement positions or offers. It is not legal advice. Rules and forms are amended; always confirm the current requirements against the Supreme Court Family Rules before acting. Rule text on this page was checked against B.C. Reg. 169/2009 as consolidated on BC Laws, current to October 27, 2026 (last amended October 1, 2026 by B.C. Reg. 105/2026). Last reviewed November 2, 2026.

Next step

Keep going.

Next: The case planning conference (Part 7.1)

After a JCC, any party can ask for a case planning conference, which ends with a binding case plan order setting the timetable to trial.

Read: The case planning conference (Part 7.1) →

← Documents and examinations for discovery · Case planning conference (Part 7.1) →

The Supreme Court family process, in order

  1. How a BC Supreme Court family case works
  2. Notice of family claim (Form F3)
  3. Response to family claim (Form F4)
  4. Counterclaim (Form F5) and response (Form F6)
  5. Financial statement (Form F8)
  6. Judicial case conference (Form F19)
  7. Interim applications (Rule 10-6)
  8. Documents and examinations for discovery
  9. Settlement conference (Rule 7-2) (this page)
  10. Case planning conference (Part 7.1)
  11. Setting a family trial (Part 14)