Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Lake Cnty. 4-3.11

As amended through September 23, 2024

Rule 4-3.11 - Settlement Conference

A. Settlement conferences shall be mandatory in all contested pre-judgment Family Division cases and contested post-judgment allocation of parental responsibility and relocation petitions unless specifically excused by Court Order. No such case shall proceed to trial or hearing as a contested matter until a settlement conference has been held.

B. A Settlement Conference Memorandum shall be provided by each party to the Court and opposing counsel or self-represented party two court days prior to the settlement conference. The Settlement Conference Memorandum shall be in the form approved by the Court.

C. Settlement conferences shall be set by Order of Court pursuant to the Court's own Motion or Notice and Motion or by agreement of the parties. It shall be mandatory for the parties and the trial attorneys to be present at all settlement conferences unless otherwise excused for good cause by prior Court Order.

D. Any party and/or attorney required under this Rule to attend a settlement conference who, without good cause, fails to attend after having been given due and proper Notice or fails to provide a Settlement Conference Memorandum, shall be subject to the sanctioning power of this Court including, but not limited to, those authorized under Supreme Court Rule 219(c), such as civil or criminal contempt, dismissal, imposition of attorney's fees, and imposition of monetary sanctions.

Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Lake Cnty. 4-3.11