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We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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Settlement conference

Home » Get Help and Advice » A-Z of Terms » Settlement conference

Under 1 minute read

A settlement conference is a meeting between parties in proceedings that is hosted by a family judge. The aim of the meeting is to reach an agreement by consent by all parties through negotiation and therefore avoid the need for a contested final hearing.

Settlement conferences have been trialled in some Family Courts, over a number of years. Use of settlement conferences is still quite rare in practice.

This information leaflet provides more information about settlement conferences.

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