Problem Solving Justice Division Foreclosure Information for Homeowners

Settlement Conferences

A Foreclosure Settlement Conference will be scheduled by the Court in most residential foreclosure cases. The Court will mail you the date, time and place for the settlement conference. The Court date will be within 60 days after the plaintiff files proof of service of the complaint and a document called a Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI). The purpose of the settlement conference is to see if your foreclosure case can be resolved.

Please be aware that you are required to Answer the plaintiff's complaint in a timely manner even if you have a court conference date or are in the process of scheduling a conference. Before your first conference, you may wish to review the following:

If you don't know how to fill out the Foreclosure Standard Answer Form you can use the DIY Foreclosure Answer Program. The DIY Program is a free and easy online program that walks you step-by-step through the paperwork you need to complete.

At the first settlement conference, the court may:

• discuss the rights and obligations of the parties;
• determine whether the parties can reach a resolution to avoid foreclosure;
• evaluate workout/settlement options such as payment schedules or loan modifications;
• design a plan to streamline future court proceedings if a settlement cannot be reached.

At the end of your conference, the court's directives will be written into one or more of the following forms: