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Inventory of Reforms

Yukon Family Law Case Conferences (Practice Direction 40)

Year:
2007

Description:
Practice directive mandating judicial case conferences providing information to family law litigants on available alternative dispute resolution procedures and allowing parties to discuss the appropriate procedure for their case.

Status:
Permanent Implementation

Jurisdiction:
Yukon

Court:
Supreme Court of Yukon

Timeline:
May 1, 2007: Practice Direction 40 took effect

Publications:
Practice Direction #40, Family Law Case Conferences (The Supreme Court of The Yukon Territory, February 26, 2007). [Practice Direction]

Related Reforms:
Rules of Court for the Supreme Court of Yukon

Development:
Practice Direction No. 40, governing family law case conferences, came into effect on May 1, 2007.

Purpose:
“[T]to ensure that all parties are aware of the alternative dispute resolution procedures that are available and to discuss the appropriate procedure for the particular case” (Practice Direction at 1).

Description of Reforms:
This practice direction applies to all family law proceedings including a divorce petition or any proceeding where a claim for custody, access, child support or property division is made. It requires a family law case conference to be held with a judge within 60 days of the date of service of the proceeding, except in those cases that are exempt. Failure to hold a family case conference within 60 days may result in an application being struck or adjourned by the presiding judge (Practice Direction at 1).

An exemption from the requirement that a family law case conference be held can be granted by a judge (either upon an application, or without it):

The purpose of the family law case conference is to:

Following the case conference, the judge may make any order that could be made under Rule 35 for pre-trial conferences. The judge may also:

Revision History:
This summary was last reviewed in Aug 10, 2012