Request a Judicial Case Conference

Supreme Court

Introduction

This step-by-step guide is for you if:

  • you're required to have a Judicial Case Conference (JCC) as part of your application for a contested divorce, or
  • you want to have a JCC to try to settle your issues before you go to court.

You're the filing party so you'll be filling out the Notice of Judicial Case Conference, filing it at the registry, and serving it on the other person.

If you've received a Notice of Judicial Case Conference because your ex-spouse is trying to arrange a JCC, go to our step-by-step guide Respond to a Notice of Judicial Case Conference.

What's a JCC?

A JCC is a confidential meeting between you, the other person involved in your case (for example, your ex-spouse), your lawyers if you have them, and a judge or master. It gives you and the other person a chance to work things out without having to go to court.

Having a JCC can save time, money, and stress, especially if it helps you settle your case.

A JCC isn't required if having it could be dangerous or unfair, or if it's too soon or too late to resolve your issues. You can apply to be excused from having a JCC in the next step.

How long does the process take?

The JCC process will take at least one to two months, but could take several more if your Supreme Court registry is busy.

Updated on 21 October 2020
Wellness

A JCC can help to avoid or reduce the hard feelings that can arise when you have to go to court.

When you don't have to attend

You'll need

  • a Requisition (Form F17), if you want to apply to be excused from having a JCC.

When a JCC isn't required

Usually you must attend a Judicial Case Conference (JCC) before you can file a Notice of Application (Form F31), but there are some automatic exceptions.

You can also apply to the court to be excused from having a JCC if:

  • your matter needs to be resolved quickly;
  • it's too soon to have a JCC;
  • it would be unfair, inappropriate, or unmanageable to have a JCC;
  • it could be dangerous to your health or safety to delay your application or to require a JCC; or
  • the judge or master decides it's right to excuse you.

If you don't qualify to be excused from the process, continue to the next step to schedule your JCC.

How to apply to be excused from a JCC

To apply to be excused from the JCC:

  • Fill out the Requisition (Form F17).
  • Attach a letter from you or your lawyer that states the reasons why you want to be excused.
  • File your completed Requisition and your attached letter at the registry where the Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) was filed.

The Requisition (Form F17) has instructions to help you fill it out, or see Common questions about the Supreme Court PDF forms for more help.

The court considers your request

The registry will give your documents to a judge or master, who'll consider your request. The judge or master can:

  • require you to file documents with more information,
  • require that you or your lawyer go to court to give more information about your application,
  • make the order you asked for,
  • refuse to make the order, or
  • make any other order.

The registry staff will let you know what the judge or master decides. While you wait for the decision, you might not have to attend court.

Updated on 7 December 2022
Wellness

Remember that while it might be stressful, settling your issues now will make things easier in the long term.

Schedule the JCC

Before you schedule the Judicial Case Conference (JCC), check when the other person (or their lawyer, if they have one) is available. If you book a time that won't work for them, the JCC will be delayed.

You'll need to file and serve documents on the other person at least 30 days before your JCC. So make sure the date you set for your JCC is more than 30 days away.

When you have a list of dates and times that would suit both you and the other person for your JCC, check Supreme Court Scheduling to see what's available. To do this:

  1. From the drop-down menu, select the location where your order was filed.
  2. Under Conferences, find and open the PDF with a title similar to "Judicial Case Conferences Available Dates" or "JCC Available Dates."
  3. Check the document for a time that suits you and the other person.
  4. Call the trial coordinator at the courthouse to book your preferred time.

You can ask the trial coordinator to have your JCC by telephone conference.

Your booking is not guaranteed until you file a Notice of Judicial Case Conference (Form F19) with the registry. Ask the coordinator how quickly you have to do this to secure your date and time.

If you don't schedule a JCC, the other person has the right to arrange one.

Updated on 18 September 2019
Wellness

Getting enough sleep can help you work through stressful times.

Fill out the forms for the JCC

You'll need

Fill out your Notice of Judicial Case Conference

After you book your Judicial Case Conference (JCC), you need to fill out a Notice of Judicial Case Conference (Form F19). You'll file this document at the court registry to tell the court that you want a JCC. The form has instructions to help you fill it out.

Fill out your Financial Statement, if you need one

A Financial Statement is often required if either you or the other person is trying to claim child or spousal support.

If you're not sure how to fill out a Financial Statement, or if you need one, see our step-by-step guide Complete a Supreme Court Financial Statement (Form F8).

Make copies

Make three copies of your completed Notice of Judicial Case Conference (Form F19):

  • The court registry will keep the original.
  • You'll keep one copy for your records.
  • You'll serve one copy on the other person.
  • You'll attach one copy to an Affidavit of Ordinary Service (Form F16).

Print two copies of the Litigants' Guide to Judicial Case Conferences and the Case Management Plan (one copy for you and one to give to the other person).

The Litigants' Guide will help you prepare for the JCC. The Case Management Plan is a form that the judge or master will use to identify the issues of the case and fill out at the end of the JCC. Then you, the other person, and the judge or master will sign it.

Add the extra copy of the Litigants' Guide and a blank Case Management Plan to the package of documents to serve on the other person.

Make a title page for each of your copies

Make a title page to attach to each copy of your Notice of Judicial Case Conference. You can use the blank Supreme Court Application Record title page.

Your cover page should contain:

  • the style of proceeding (including the full names of the parties, court file number, and registry);
  • the title JUDICIAL CASE CONFERENCE and a brief description of what the material is about (for example, "RULE 7-1(7) Notice of Judicial Case Conference with respect to family matters");
  • contact information for each of the parties, or their lawyers, including:
    • each person's address for service, and
    • phone numbers or email addresses that the registry can use to contact you;
  • the time, date, and place of the conference;
  • the name of the person who is filing the notice (that might be you or your lawyer); and
  • the estimated time needed for the conference.
You must file and serve your documents (the next step) at least 30 days before your scheduled JCC. Make sure you allow enough time.
Updated on 23 December 2022
Wellness

Being prepared ensures that your side of the story is heard and considered. You can do this.

File and serve

You'll need

  • $80 for the filing fee
  • The original and three copies of your Notice of Judicial Case Conference, with completed cover pages
  • Your completed Financial Statement, if required
  • The other person's copies of the Litigants' Guide and Case Management Plan
  • The other person's address for service
  • A blank Affidavit of Ordinary Service (Form F16)
  • Someone to swear or affirm your affidavit, such as a lawyer, notary public, or commissioner
  • Money to pay the fee to have your affidavit sworn
You must file and serve your Notice of Judicial Case Conference (Form F19) at least 30 days before your Judicial Case Conference (JCC). If you're required to provide a Financial Statement (Form F8), you must file and serve it at least seven days before your JCC.

File your documents

At least 30 days before your JCC, file the original Notice of Judicial Case Conference (Form F19) at the court registry where the Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) was filed. You'll need to pay an $80 filing fee. You can file your Financial Statement (Form F8), if required, at the same time.

The registry staff will stamp the documents with the date, the court seal, and a file number. They'll keep the original and give the stamped copies back to you.

Serve your documents by ordinary service

You can serve your Notice of Judicial Case Conference and Financial Statement (if required), and any attachments by ordinary service. This means that the documents can be:

See our step-by-step guide Serve Supreme Court documents by ordinary service for more instructions.

Which method should you use?

The method you use will depend on the type of information the other person listed in their address for service on their own court documents. You can only serve a document to an address they've listed.

It might also depend on how much time you have until your scheduled JCC. The other person must receive the documents at least 30 days before your JCC, and some methods take longer than others.

A document that's emailed, faxed, or left at a person's address for service is considered served on that day if it's served at or before 4 pm on a business day (Monday to Friday). If it's left after 4 pm or on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, it's considered served on the next business day.

A mailed document is considered served one week later on the same day of the week as the day it was sent. If that day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, it's considered served on the next business day.

Complete the Affidavit of Ordinary Service

Fill out an Affidavit of Ordinary Service (Form F16) to prove that you've served your documents on the other person.

Attach copies of the served documents to the affidavit (not including the Litigants' Guide and Case Management Plan). Mark each attachment as "Exhibit A," "Exhibit B," "Exhibit C," etc.

If the documents aren't attached and properly marked, the court won't accept your affidavit and you'll have to serve the documents again.

Take the affidavit and attached exhibits to a lawyer, a notary public, or a clerk at the court registry to swear or affirm that the documents have been served. (There's a fee for this.) The lawyer, notary, or clerk will sign the affidavit and stamp and sign each attachment.

Have the sworn affidavit ready to show in court as proof that you served the documents.
Updated on 13 December 2022
Wellness

If you feel overwhelmed, try doing something physical. You could go for a walk, dance to your favourite song, or hit the gym.

Go to the JCC

You'll need

Prepare for your meeting

To prepare for the Judicial Case Conference (JCC), read the Litigant's Guide to Judicial Case Conferences and the Case Management Plan. The Litigants' Guide describes in detail what happens at the JCC. The Case Management Plan is a form that the judge or master will use to identify the issues of the case and fill out at the end of the JCC.

The JCC meeting will take about 90 minutes and will be held at the courthouse where the Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) was filed. The JCC will take place either in a courtroom or in a meeting room.

Make sure to bring all the forms and documents in the list above.

When you arrive, check the bulletin board at the courthouse, or ask registry staff for help finding the correct room. Arrive early so you're relaxed and ready to begin at the scheduled time.

What you'll discuss

The judge or master will begin by asking each of you what you think the issues are. Refer to your Litigants' Guide to Judicial Case Conferences and Case Management Plan when giving your answers.

Together with the judge or master, you and the other person will review different ways to resolve the issues you can't agree on. If you have any questions about ways to resolve the issues, this is your chance to ask.

Depending on your circumstances, the discussion might focus on how to settle your case or on how to manage the case.

Be prepared to share information

You might also discuss processes for moving your case along, such as financial disclosure. The judge or master can make orders and directions to make sure both of you complete these steps.

Managing your case often involves making sure you both have the information you need to have a meaningful settlement discussion. This information is generally the same information you'll need to present in court if the case isn't settled at the JCC.

If you haven't already exchanged financial statements, the judge or master might order them to be exchanged within a certain time. They might even order both of you to attend another JCC once that has happened.

Updated on 28 February 2021
Wellness

It can be difficult coming face-to-face with the other person. Refer to your documents if you need to, answer questions as best you can, and keep to the facts that you know to be true.

At the end of the JCC

Next steps

Expand the heading that fits your situation to find out what to do after your Judicial Case Conference (JCC).

If the judge or master makes an order at the JCC, use an Order Made at Judicial Case Conference (Form F51.1).

You'll need your signed Case Management Plan.

Download a blank copy of the form:

More help writing orders:

If you can't agree at the JCC, the judge or master might also order you try mediation or another type of family dispute resolution, or that your child see a counsellor.

If that still doesn't work, the judge or master usually takes the next steps to move toward a trial. A trial is a more formal process, and a judge will end up making the decisions for you.

If the other person doesn't show up to the JCC, the judge or master can still talk to you about your issues. They'll only do this if they believe it's fair to do so without the other person being there.

You can also ask the judge or master to "award costs." This means that the other person would have to pay part of your legal expenses.

You've now gone through all the steps required to prepare for and attend a Judicial Case Conference in Supreme Court.

Thank you for using our step-by-step guide.

Updated on 18 April 2023
Wellness

Whatever the outcome, you've accomplished a lot already. Take a minute to appreciate yourself and the work you've done.