(A) Whenever it appears at any time during pendency of an action for divorce, annulment, or legal separation that conciliation proceedings may prevent dissolution of the marriage or disruption of the household, the court may transfer the matter to the conciliation judge for proceedings pursuant to this chapter, and the original action shall be stayed pending completion of conciliation proceedings. (B) Whenever there is a minor child of one or both spouses whose welfare may be affected by the controversy, the conciliation judge shall entertain all conciliation cases properly brought before him. Whenever there is no such minor child, but it appears that reconciliation of the spouses or amicable settlement of the controversy may be achieved, and that conciliation cases involving children will not be seriously impeded by acceptance of the case, the conciliation judge may accept and dispose of conciliation cases in the same manner as in cases involving the welfare of children. (C) The conciliation judge has jurisdiction over the controversy, the parties, such of the minor children of the parties whose welfare may be affected by the controversy, and all persons having any relation to the controversy, in all conciliation cases properly before him pursuant to this chapter.
