What is a case conference and is it required before an Ontario will dispute goes to trial?

A case conference is an early meeting before a judge where the parties to an Ontario will dispute, along with their lawyers, discuss the issues genuinely in dispute, review the current state of the evidence, and plan out the procedural steps and timeline needed to move the case toward resolution, whether by settlement or trial. It's a working, practical session rather than a formal hearing on the merits, and the judge often helps narrow the issues and set a realistic schedule for the steps still to come, such as document exchange, examinations, and, where applicable, mandatory mediation.

Case conferences are a standard, expected part of contested Ontario estate litigation, and courts generally require the parties to attend one, or more than one, as the case develops, before it can proceed toward a trial or a solemn form hearing. They're a useful opportunity to raise scheduling problems, disclosure disputes, or settlement possibilities directly with a judge in an informal setting, rather than waiting until a formal motion becomes necessary. Because case conferences shape how efficiently the rest of the litigation runs, come prepared with your lawyer, having clearly identified the real issues in dispute and what you need from the other side.