Family Law - Calvert County

Hearings    Orders

Filing Requirements
Fees:     Court Fees     Sheriff's Fees     Fee Waivers
Forms:     Distribution Assistance     Domestic Case Management (DCM) Forms
Child Support Worksheets     Notarization     Emergency Hearings

Fees
Court Fees
Uncontested Divorce Master Fee: N/A
Is this fee paid to the Master?: N/A
Pro Se filing fee: $105
Filing fee with an attorney: $115
Post-judgment filing fee: $25/writ

Sheriff's Fees
Sheriff's fee for service: $40
Reissuance of Summons: No additional fee.

Fee Waivers
Pre-payment of fees can be waived at least until it is time for the hearing and often responsibility is determined after the hearing is over. After a waiver application is filed the clerk will take it to the judge or approval, which can run anywhere from two minutes to 24 hours. 


Forms
Distribution
The most reliable source of family court forms is the Administrative Office of the Courts, Family Services Division, which provides the most recent versions of forms for pro se litigants through their website. Forms are also available from the clerk's office, family services office and the pro se project office.

Forms Assistance for Pro Se Litigants

If you are considering filing for custody in Maryland, there is a new online tool which will walk you though a series of questions and ask you to provide information. At the end of the process, you will have the appropriate Maryland Domestic Relation forms for custody, filled out and read to print.

A court-staffed pro se project operates on Wednesdays from 12:30-3:30. While they distribute the 1-800 number information for legal forms help, advocates state that the lines are extremely busy. 


DCM Forms
Required from pro se filers?: Yes, but the clerk's office is less diligent about requiring them from the respondent than the petitioner.
Required in cases with an attorney?: Yes.

Child Support Worksheets/Guidelines
Available from the clerk's office, the pro se clinic and the family court office.

Notarization
Informational packet from the clerk's office contains information on notarizing documents and on waiving the notarization requirement. Judge Fruge doesn't adamantly enforce notarization requirements.

Emergency Hearing (Pro Se Litigants)
A petitioner should file a Domestic Relations form and write "Emergency" on it. After a petitioner files, their motion will be reviewed by a master to determine if it merits an immediate hearing. The petitioner must notify the respondent a minimum of 24 hours before the hearing, unless it is a situation of imminent danger or death. 

Source: A joint project of the Women's Law Center and MLAN, along with interviews conducted with Family Law Court Coordinators, court clerks and local advocates practicing in this county.  Updated by the Maryland State Law Library (MSLL).


Date of Last Review: 10/6/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)