Parties in a suit for divorce may reach agreement through an informal settlement conference (ISC). The ISC may be conducted directly by the parties without the assistance of legal counsel.
CAUTION: Consult with a professional before and while you do this! Why? You will be making decisions without knowing the legal consequences and without knowing all of the options available to you.
If one or both parties have an attorney, then the conference may be convened by the attorney. The conference will usually be in the office of one of the attorneys. (Covid-19 pandemic has forced most conferences and hearing to be remote by one of the conference platforms.)
The conference will consist of both parties and their respective attorney haing a negotiation with a problem-solving attitude. The idea is to help the parties resolve their difference through negotiation. The attorneys are present to provide legal counsel and advise their respective client. This works best when the parties and their attorneys are interested in avoiding litigation and are seeking to provide accommodation to each others’ interest.
A party is entitled to a court judgment based upon their ISC agreement IF their agreement is signed by both parties and their attorney, if any. Also, the agreement must state that it is not subject to revocation. This non-revocable statement must be prominently displayed in bold face type or capital letters or underlined.