What is the difference between a case conference, a settlement conference, and a trial management conference?

These are three distinct stages in an Ontario family court case, each with a different focus. A case conference typically comes first, aimed at identifying the real issues in dispute, checking on disclosure, discussing whether there's room for settlement, and setting a timetable for next steps — it's a general check-in rather than a focused negotiation. A settlement conference comes later, generally once more disclosure has taken place, and is specifically focused on trying to resolve the case; the judge can give a non-binding view on how the issues might be decided to help push settlement discussions forward.

A trial management conference happens close to an actual trial date and deals with the practical logistics of the trial itself — narrowing the issues that remain genuinely contested, confirming witness lists and time estimates, and addressing any outstanding procedural matters, sometimes serving as a last opportunity to settle before trial begins. All three are generally required steps before a case proceeds to trial, though a court can dispense with or combine steps in some circumstances. Understanding which stage you're at helps you and your lawyer prepare the right materials for that specific conference.