Santa Clara County Family Court - I have a Settlement Officer Conference (SOC) in a few months. Do I need to file anything?

These are usually one hour meetings, although sometimes they can run long if progress is being made and there is a cancellation of the next scheduled meeting. You do not need to file anything, but it is helpful if you can have an agenda that you can share at the meeting. Also, there is a local form (http://www.scscourt.org/forms_and_filing/forms/FM-1030.pdf) that you can fill out and bring with you. If you do, then make two copies, so that the settlement officer and the other party can also look at it.

I would prepare a brief that outlines the issues that are in dispute between the parties and the position each party is taking on each issue. File that and serve the other party at least 5 court days before the SOC. They usually read them.