Family Court - St. Mary's 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
Pro Se Filing Fee: $105 for a new one, $25 to reopen.
Filing Fee with and attorney: $115 for a new one, $35 to reopen 
Post-Judgment filing fee: $25 for a new one, $35 to reopen if you have an attorney

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

Fee Waivers
Fees for Sheriff: no
Fees for Master: no.

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 Family Support Services Coordinator.

Forms Assistance for Pro Se Litigants
The Pro Se Clinic is open two Fridays per month. Contact Linda Grove for dates as they vary. Calvert County also has a Pro Se Clinic available.

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.

DCM Forms
DCM forms are required in cases with an attorney, but there is no form available for pro se cases.

Child Support Worksheets/Guidelines
Available from the Family Court Coordinator.

Notarization
Forms do not need to be notarized.

Emergency Hearing (Pro Se Litigants)
You must get an attorney to request an emergency hearing. There is no procedure available to pro se litigants.

It is almost always possible to see a judge the same day you request the hearing.

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.)