Rule 1915.3 - Commencement Of Action. Complaint. Order For Conciliation Conference. Conciliation Conference(a) Upon commencement of an action for custody, partial custody or visitation of minor children, or the filing of a petition seeking modification or contempt of an existing order or seeking relocation, the plaintiff/petitioner shall attach an order to the original complaint or petition, directing the defendant/respondent to attend a conciliation conference. The court will schedule the conciliation conference at a court facility and the Prothonotary will provide a copy of a scheduling order to the plaintiff/petitioner for service on the defendant/respondent.(b) The parties and their attorneys shall attend the conciliation conference.(c) At the conference, the parties and their attorneys shall meet and discuss the issues and use their best efforts to reach a settlement based on the best interests and welfare of the child/children.(d) Upon reaching a settlement, the attorneys and parties shall immediately dictate a consent order. The court will make a member of its staff available to prepare the order. The parties shall sign the order and present it to the court staff before leaving the court facility.(e) If the parties are unable to reach a settlement of the issues, they shall notify the court before leaving the court facility.(f) In the event Pa.R.C.P. 1940.3(b) or another rule or law prevents the court from ordering a mediation orientation session, the parties and their attorneys shall so notify the court at the conclusion of the conciliation conference and the court will proceed to schedule a pre-hearing conference. Otherwise, the court will order a mediation orientation session and mediation pursuant to Rule L1940.3. In those cases which proceed to a pre-hearing conference, a pre-hearing statement shall be filed with the court by each party at least seven (7) days before the pre-hearing conference. If no agreement is reached at the pre-hearing conference the court will schedule a hearing.
Amended effective 7/1/2005.