What happens at a pretrial conference for family court involving custody?

Often it is just to set a trial date, sometimes the judge also wants to know if any issues have been resolved and what issues remain for trial, and if there are any practical issues, such as expert witness issues or evidentiary issues that need to be addressed before trial.

The pre-trial is to: 1. Set your trial date, 2. Make sure that all pre-trial conditions ordered by the Court, as for instance: a. filing a pre-trial memorandum, b. filing a list of the witnesses you plan to present in your case at trial, c. filing a list of all the documents, photographs, and evidence which you will be presenting at the trial, d. filing at least 30 days before the pre-trial the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any expert witnesses you plan to bring to testify at trial, and e. filing your child support guidelines calculations, updated family law financial affidavits, and time-sharing and parenting plans suggested to the Court. Alejandro R. Lopez, Esq. Law Office of Alejandro R. Lopez, P.A. 4465 Edgewater Dr., Suite A Orlando, Fla. 32804 Ph.: (407) 649-1404 E-mail: [email protected]

I agree with the other two answers, the trial date will be schedule that day, so make sure you have your calendar with you. The judge need to know what issues need to be addressed at trial, in order to schedule the trial for the appropriate amount of time. It is very important that prior to the pretrial conference you file you pretrial memorandum, as the order states that if you fail to disclose your witness list and your exhibit list you will not be able to present those witnesses or exhibit at trial.