The First Major Economic Proceeding in Contested Divorce
The Divorce Hearing Officer (DHO) conciliation is typically the first formal economic proceeding in a contested Allegheny County divorce. The conciliation serves two primary purposes: attempting to settle the economic issues through negotiation, and separating the issues in genuine dispute from those that can be resolved by agreement.
Note: Prior to January 1, 2022, these officers were called "Masters," and you may still hear that term. Only the title changed; the role is the same.
What Happens at the DHO Conciliation
Counsel for the parties, if represented, appear before the hearing officer. Each side presents their position on the economic issues: equitable distribution of assets and debts, spousal support/alimony, and any other unresolved financial claims. The hearing officer facilitates discussion aimed at settlement and identifies the specific points of disagreement that will require a formal hearing if not resolved.
The parties must file Marital Asset and Liability Summaries (MALS) before the conciliation. The quality and completeness of the MALS shapes the entire discussion.
The DHO conciliation is scheduled for three hours, and both parties pay in advance for the hearing officer's time. The block runs as long as the case requires within that window; many resolve sooner, some require a second conciliation to complete the work.
The Decision Point
The DHO conciliation is where many divorce cases settle, because both sides, having gone through discovery and prepared their positions, now have a realistic picture of what a hearing would produce. The hearing officer's informal assessment of the likely outcome can move both parties toward a negotiated resolution they can live with.
When settlement is not reached, a DHO hearing (the equitable distribution trial) is scheduled. That hearing requires full preparation: pre-trial statements, updated MALS, expert reports, witness lists. The DHO conciliation is the last efficient opportunity to resolve the economic issues before the hearing.
Most contested matters that settle do so here or after a second conciliation. Settlement at the DHO stage comes once the financial picture is fully developed, the statutory analysis is complete, and the likely range of trial outcomes is visible to both sides. When that work is done well, the case resolves on terms that reflect what would have happened at trial.
Knowing when to settle and when to litigate is the core judgment call in equitable distribution cases. A proposed settlement that feels unfair should be evaluated against the realistic hearing outcome, accounting for the cost of the hearing, the uncertainty of the result, and the time involved. Sometimes the hearing produces a better result and sometimes it does not, and telling which case is which requires honest assessment.