Family Court - Carroll 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: none
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 - does not accept cash.
Reissuance of Summons: No additional fee.

Fee Waivers
Fees for sheriff are not waived, but the master's fees can be. Litignts requesting such a waiver must meet income eligibility guidelines and submit their request to Master Tabatsko.

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.

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 Tuesdays from 9-12 and 4-7 for people who meet income eligibility requirements. 

DCM Forms
Required from pro se filers?: Yes.
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
Forms do not need to be notarized.

Emergency Hearing (Pro Se Litigants)
In case of an emergency, the Family Court Coordinator suggests you get a lawyer. It is extremely rare for a pro se party to be able to sufficiently show that a "true emergency" exists. If an attorney files for an emergency hearing it is possible to see a judge the same day, but this is not possible for pro se parties. 

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.)