A resolution management conference is a scheduled family court hearing where a judge reviews the open issues in your divorce, custody, or support case, confirms anything the parties already agree on, and decides what happens next. The term comes from Arizona’s family law rules, though many states run similar hearings under names like case management conference or settlement conference. For most people, it is the first real face-to-face with the judge, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
The court can set the conference on its own or on either party’s request. Once requested, it has to happen within 60 days unless a judge extends that window for good cause.1New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Rule 76 – Resolution Management Conference The scheduling order the court sends you will specify the date, time, format, and any particular instructions. Read it carefully, because some courts spell out whether testimony or evidence will be taken. In most cases, it will not. The conference is a working discussion, not a mini-trial.
What You File and Bring Beforehand
How the conference goes depends almost entirely on what you put in front of the judge ahead of time.
The Resolution Statement
At least five days before the conference, each party has to file a written resolution statement. It lists any issues the parties already agree on and lays out a specific, detailed position on every issue still in dispute.1New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Rule 76 – Resolution Management Conference Treat it as a roadmap: custody preferences, child support position, how property should be divided, whether you want or oppose spousal maintenance, and anything else that is open. The judge reads it before the conference starts, and it shapes the entire conversation.
Courts provide standardized forms. Common sections include both parties’ incomes, children with ages and birthdates, separate and community property, debts, and each party’s stance on legal decision-making.2Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. Information and Instructions for Completing a Resolution Statement for Divorce or Legal Separation Fill in every section, even if your position is “I agree with the other party.” Blanks tell the judge you have not thought it through.
Financial Disclosures
Financial affidavits are the backbone of any discussion about support or property. Expect to disclose income from all sources, monthly expenses, assets (bank accounts, retirement funds, real estate, vehicles), and debts. Courts expect full transparency. Incomplete or misleading disclosures can trigger sanctions and will damage your credibility with the judge for the rest of the case.
The Meet-and-Confer
Before the conference, the parties have to talk and try to resolve as many issues as they can on their own.1New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Rule 76 – Resolution Management Conference Anything you settle in advance shortens the hearing and lets the judge focus on what truly needs the court. The requirement does not apply if there is a protective order in place, a history of domestic violence, or domestic violence allegations where the alleged victim is self-represented.
Who Has to Be There
Both parties must attend, along with their attorneys if they have them. Personal attendance matters because the judge may ask you direct questions about your situation, your priorities, and where you might compromise. Sending only your lawyer limits what the court can get done in the room.
Many courts now allow video or phone appearances, though rules vary. Requests for remote participation usually have to be filed in advance, sometimes 48 hours or more before the hearing. Check your court’s local rules or call the clerk. Remote works, but in-person tends to carry more weight when a judge is reading the room.
You do not need an attorney to appear, and plenty of people go through the process self-represented. If the full cost of a lawyer is a barrier, limited scope representation is an option: you hire an attorney for a defined task, such as the conference itself or a review of your resolution statement, without retaining them for the entire case. The attorney files a notice with the court specifying what they were hired to do, and the representation ends when that task is complete. The scope has to be set out in a written agreement before the work starts.
What Actually Happens in the Room
The judge opens by working through the resolution statements, identifying where the parties line up and where they split. From there the conference generally moves through a few predictable stages.
- Agreements get confirmed. Anything accepted by the court at the conference becomes binding on both parties right then.
- The judge walks through each contested issue, asks questions, and sometimes suggests compromises. There is no cross-examination and usually no testimony. The judge is looking for common ground, not a winner.
- If either party filed a motion for temporary orders (temporary custody, child support, exclusive use of the home), the court often rules on those at the conference.
- The judge decides what happens next. That might be a referral to mediation, a settlement conference, evaluations or appraisals, or a trial date with pretrial deadlines.
The hearing can run anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on how many issues are open and how far apart the parties are. Complicated finances or contested custody take longer. If both sides come in close to agreement, the judge might wrap everything up in a single sitting.
What the Judge Can Order on the Spot
The judge’s authority at the conference is broader than most people expect. During the hearing, the court can:
- Enter binding agreements as part of a court order whenever both parties agree on an issue.
- Issue temporary orders on custody, support, or other urgent matters based on the discussion alone, without an evidentiary hearing, if the parties consent.1New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Rule 76 – Resolution Management Conference
- Order custody evaluations, property appraisals, psychological assessments, or other expert work.
- Resolve discovery disputes and set deadlines for exchanging records.
- Refer issues to mediation or another dispute resolution process when extended negotiation is likely to produce a better result than courtroom argument. Agreements reached in mediation come back to the court for approval and, once signed, become enforceable orders.
- Set a trial date and pretrial deadlines for statements, exhibits, and witness lists when settlement looks unlikely.
After the conference, the court enters a written order summarizing what happened and what each party has to do going forward. That order controls the rest of the case unless a later order modifies it.1New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Rule 76 – Resolution Management Conference
What Happens If You Miss It
Missing the conference is one of the fastest ways to damage your case. Under Arizona’s rules effective January 1, 2026, a party who fails to appear faces consequences that can include:
- The court treating the other side’s version of disputed facts as true.
- Limits on the defenses you can raise or evidence you can introduce later.
- Part or all of your filings being struck.
- Default judgment against you on some or all issues without a hearing.
- Dismissal of your case or counterclaim, unless dismissal would harm a child or the party who did show up.
- A scheduled contempt hearing.
On top of those sanctions, the court can order the no-show party or their attorney to pay the other side’s reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, caused by the failure to appear.3New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Rule 76.2 – Sanctions for Failure to Participate in a Court Proceeding If you have a legitimate reason you cannot attend, notify the court and the other party as early as possible, with documentation. “I forgot” is unlikely to save you.
How Candid to Be
People often worry that anything they say at the conference will come back at trial. Federal Rule of Evidence 408 provides a baseline protection: statements and conduct during settlement negotiations are generally not admissible to prove or disprove the validity of a disputed claim.4Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 408 – Compromise Offers and Negotiations Most states have adopted equivalent rules.
The protection has limits. Evidence from settlement discussions can sometimes be admitted for other purposes, such as showing bias or proving an attempt to obstruct an investigation. And practically, once the other side hears your position, they cannot unhear it. The rule keeps the statement out of evidence; it does not erase the strategic information. Be candid enough to make progress, but do not volunteer more than the discussion requires.
After the Conference
The order the judge enters after the conference governs the next phase of your case. If you resolved everything, the judge may enter final orders and the case is effectively done. If some issues settled and others remain, the order will memorialize what you agreed to and set deadlines for the open disputes, whether that is mediation, discovery, evaluations, or trial.
Read every deadline carefully and calendar it. Missing a deadline to file documents, complete a court-ordered evaluation, or appear at a follow-up hearing can trigger the same kind of sanctions as missing the conference itself. The post-conference order is not a suggestion. It controls the case until the court says otherwise.