The California Declaration and Request for Exemption from Mandatory Settlement Conference Program is a legal document issued by the state of California, which allows a party to request exemption from the California Mandatory Settlement Conferences Program. This program is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that requires parties to attend a settlement conference prior to engaging in litigation. The California Declaration and Request for Exemption from Mandatory Settlement Conference Program is typically used in civil and family law cases, and is required by many California Superior Courts. It allows a party to request an exemption from attending a settlement conference on the basis of exceptional circumstances. These circumstances may include but are not limited to: an inability to meet the time frame for a settlement conference, a serious illness of a party, a conflict of interest, or a need to preserve the confidentiality of a particular case. The California Declaration and Request for Exemption from Mandatory Settlement Conference Program must be completed by the party requesting the exemption and filed with the court. It is then reviewed by a judge who will decide whether to grant the request. There are two types of California Declaration and Request for Exemption from Mandatory Settlement Conference Program: (1) Exemption Request Only and (2) Exemption Request with Statement of Reasons. The Exemption Request Only form is used when the requesting party does not need to provide any reasons for the exemption. The Exemption Request with Statement of Reasons form is used when the requesting party must provide detailed reasons for the exemption.