Short answer. Within five days, the court issues an order stating whether the parties reached an amicable settlement and its terms, the stipulations or admissions made, whether judgment can be rendered without further proceedings, the material facts still contested, and other matters to expedite the case.

What the law says

Within five days after the termination of the preliminary conference, the court shall issue an order stating the matters taken up therein, including but not limited to: 1. Whether the parties have arrived at an amicable settlement, and if so, the terms thereof; 2. The stipulations or admissions entered into by the parties; 3. Whether, on the basis of the pleadings and the stipulations and admissions made by the parties, judgment may be rendered without the need of further proceedings, in which event the judgment shall be rendered within thirty days from issuance of the order; 4. A clear specification of material facts which remain controverted; and 5. Such other matters intended to expedite the disposition of the case. (8, RSP)

Rule 70, Section 9 — Record of preliminary conference. Read the full provision →

A five-day deadline for the order

The court does not simply move on after the preliminary conference ends; within five days after its termination, the court must issue an order stating the matters taken up during the conference, memorializing what happened and what was decided or agreed. This written record matters because the conference itself is an oral proceeding, and without a prompt written order the parties and the court would have nothing fixed to work from as the case moves toward its next stage, and any dispute over what actually happened at the conference would have no clear document to resolve it.

What the order must cover

That order must address, at minimum, whether the parties reached an amicable settlement and its terms, the stipulations or admissions the parties entered into, and whether judgment can already be rendered on the pleadings and admissions without further proceedings — in which case judgment must follow within thirty days from the order. Capturing any settlement and its terms in the order gives the agreement a clear, documented basis the court can act on, rather than leaving it to the parties' memory of what was discussed at the conference.

Framing what is left to be tried

Beyond that, the order must clearly specify the material facts that remain controverted, so the parties and the court know exactly what still needs to be resolved, along with any other matters intended to expedite the disposition of the case as a whole, a catch-all that lets the court address anything else relevant to moving the case forward efficiently. That specification of controverted facts becomes the reference point for the very next stage of the case, since the affidavits and evidence the parties later submit are supposed to be directed at exactly those facts, not the case generally.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.