Family Law Case Management

Division 6, Part 3, Chapter 6 of the California Family Code deals with case management for dissolution of marriage and legal separation cases.

Section 2450 provides that the purpose of family centered case resolution is to benefit the parties by providing judicial assistance and management to the parties in actions for dissolution of marriage for the purpose of expediting the processing of the case, reducing the expense of litigation, and focusing on early resolution by settlement.

It also specifies that family centered case resolution is a tool to allow the courts to better assist families. It does not increase the authority of the court to appoint any third parties to the case. The court may order a family centered case resolution plan.

Section 2451 requires a court-ordered family centered case resolution plan to be in conformance with due process requirements and may include seven specified provisions.

This section does not provide any additional authority to the court to appoint experts beyond that permitted under other provisions of law.

Section 2452 allows the Judicial Council, by rule, to increase the procedures set forth in this chapter.