Family Court - St. Mary's County

Filing Requirements    Orders

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

Scheduling
There is automatically a scheduling/settlement conference after an answer is filed. If you need to request a hearing, use Dom Rel forms 52 or 59.

Settlement Conferences
The Court holds settlement conferences when one or both parties are pro se.

Length of Time to Get a Hearing
It takes about three weeks after the answer is filed to get a scheduling conference. Then it takes 3 to 4 months to get a hearing in front of a judge. It is faster to get a hearing in front of a Master.

Emergency Hearings - Pro Se Litigants
It is suggested that you get a lawyer if you need an emergency hearing. There are no blank forms for requesting an emergency hearing.

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

Who Will Hear The Case
All uncontested divorces, paternity, child support, show cause and CINA cases go before a Master.

Parties meet with a Master during their scheduling conference. The Master recommends mediation or other exercises. If the issue is not resolved within 45 days, it will usually go before a judge unless a Master has a significant history with the case.

Child support cases go to a master automatically.

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.)