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A woman from the guardian's office called DH yesterday wanting to set up a Settlement Conference

mrsparks's picture

Submitted by mrsparks on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 6:51am

What exactly does that mean?
She's not a mediator in any way and once again DH wants to know what it's all about before he drives 1.5 hours away for more of BM's b.s.

DH called our attorney for some guidance on the situation or to possibly find out if the attorney can give us some clue of what the settlement conference could be about

We haven't spoken to the GAL since she came to our home at the end of July, but we have left her several messages as that's what our attorney instructed us to do

What do settlement conferences normally consist of?
Does this mean settle the custody situation out of court?
I'm a little confused..

Has anybody or is anyone going through anything similiar?

Comments

Sita Tara's picture

Submitted by Sita Tara on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 8:52am

I don't know. At our last pre-trial, our GAL did ask about settling before her final report came out recommending we get FC, but BM would not even consider the GAL's informal recommendations. BM was convinced the judge would see thru the "whole mess" and keep everything as it "should be" (plus she was still hoping to get some child care expenses reimbursed that were not agreed up ahead of time and according to the wording of their shared parenting agreement that meant we were not paying. She really thought a judge would give her that and she would "win.")

So I have no idea. Your atty definitely needs to be there I would think. We did meet with the GAL without ours of course, but not related to legal advice. I didn't think they could do that. Even mediators aren't supposed to give advice, just see if they can get both parties to agree. Wonder what the heck the GAL is doing?

Definitely don't schedule til atty gives input. Keep us updated!

mrsparks's picture

Submitted by mrsparks on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 9:01am

DH is fully convinced that the GAL will recommend that we get FC of SS and that BM wants to give him up- He's based on what we know of BM so far-

I told him not to be too sure..

I think the attorney should be there as well, we called the office but only got his asst. and sometimes our attorney calls DH back and says something entirely different.

I guess we just sit and "wait" for more direction-

Thank you for your input!

bellacita's picture

Submitted by bellacita on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 9:04am

Is what will happen since u met w the GAL. Its the meeting where a decision is hopefully made. Its in front of a judge and if u have an attorney he/she shud be there too. Basically the settlement meeting w/o the full blown court hearing.

Good luck

"Given the right reasons and the right two people, marriage is a wonderful way of experiencing your life."
~the late great George Carlin