---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 498.206"
title: "20"
number: "498.206"
heading: "Prehearing conferences."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/498.206"
---

# §498.206. Prehearing conferences.

- (a) The ALJ will schedule at least one prehearing conference, and may schedule additional prehearing conferences as appropriate, upon reasonable notice to the parties.
- (b) The ALJ may use prehearing conferences to address the following:
  - (1) Simplification of the issues;
  - (2) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings, including the need for a more definite statement;
  - (3) Stipulations and admissions of fact as to the contents and authenticity of documents and deadlines for challenges, if any, to the authenticity of documents;
  - (4) Whether the parties can agree to submission of the case on a stipulated record;
  - (5) Whether a party chooses to waive appearance at a hearing and to submit only documentary evidence (subject to the objection of other parties) and written argument;
  - (6) Limitation of the number of witnesses;
  - (7) The time and place for the hearing and dates for the exchange of witness lists and of proposed exhibits;
  - (8) Discovery of documents as permitted by this part;
  - (9) Such other matters as may tend to encourage the fair, just, and expeditious disposition of the proceedings; and
  - (10) **Potential settlement of the case.**
- (c) The ALJ shall issue an order containing the matters agreed upon by the parties or ordered by the ALJ at a prehearing conference.

## Notes

### Amendments

[61 FR 65469, Dec. 13, 1996]

### Authority

Authority: Secs. 702(a)(5), 1129, and 1140 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902(a)(5), 1320a-8, and 1320b-10).

### Source

Source: 60 FR 58226, Nov. 27, 1995, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[61 FR 65469, Dec. 13, 1996]