Legal Aid Ontario settlement conferences: a valuable dispute resolution process in family law

Published: October 24, 2025

Help your clients resolve their family law matters quickly, at no charge, and without going to court. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) settlement conferences offer a practical, accessible alternative to traditional family law litigation. For more than 30 years, these conferences have helped parties resolve disputes through voluntary settlements, guided by impartial, experienced facilitators – all without stepping into a courtroom.

Available at any stage of a family law matter, LAO settlement conferences are open to all family law issues. To hold a conference, at least one party must qualify for legal aid, and both must be represented by counsel. Sessions are typically held virtually, making them available province-wide and easy to schedule by counsel through Legal Aid Online.

LAO will assign a facilitator who will oversee the settlement conference, and whose services will be provided without charging a fee to the parties. Facilitators are skilled family lawyers trained in negotiation and conflict resolution, and able to recognize and respond to issues of domestic violence, power imbalances and high-conflict dynamics. Confidentiality is strictly maintained during the LAO settlement conference, and no information from the conference may be used in court without consent.

If a settlement is reached, the facilitator provides a summary for counsel to formalize. This process ensures that final decisions are made with legal guidance and in the best interest of all parties.

Preparation time and attendance at an LAO settlement conference is billable under the LAO tariff. For more information, please refer to the Tariff and Billing Handbook.

To learn more – including how to request an LAO settlement conference for your clients – please visit the LAO settlement conferences page.