Family Law– Harford County– Hearings

 

Filing Requirements    Orders

 

Scheduling     Settlement Conferences     Length of Wait Before Hearing    

Emergency Hearings     Who Will Hear the Case

 

Hearings

Scheduling

Hearings are not scheduled automatically and need to be requested by the litigant.

                                                                                                

Settlement Conferences

This court holds settlement conferences in all cases, be the litigants represented or pro se.

 

Length of Time to Get a Hearing

The length of time to get a hearing varies, depending on the docket and complexity of the case.

 

Emergency Hearings – Pro Se Litigants

Courthouse personnel do not recommend that pro se litigants attempt to secure an emergency hearing on their own, and suggest they consult an attorney. It is possible, although difficult, to see a judge the same day the request for a hearing is filed.

 

Who Will Hear The Case

A Master can hear the case if it is domestic (although they generally do not hear custody or property cases) or if it is an uncontested divorce. Whether the case goes before a judge or a master is largely dependent upon the length of time the hearing will require.

 

 

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: 10/3/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)