Family Court - Somerset County

Filing Requirements    Orders

Hearings
Scheduling     Settlement Conferences 
Length of Wait Before Hearing
Emergency Hearings     Who Will Hear the Case

Scheduling
Hearings are always scheduled automatically in pro se cases and cases with an attorney.

Settlement Conferences
The court will hold a settlement conference in cases with an attorney or pro se.

Length of Time to Get a Hearing
Approximately 3 months.

Emergency Hearings - Pro Se Litigants
In order to request an emergency hearing, either go to the Pro Se Clinic or hire an attorney.  It is possible to see a judge the same day the request is filed.

Who Will Hear The Case
Masters hear divorce, custody, visitation, scheduling and settlement conferences, as well as juvenile matters and CINA.

If the issue is highly contested it will go to a judge. Parties can waive this and elect to see a master instead.



 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: 10/1/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)

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