Family Court  - Anne Arundel County

Filing Requirements    Hearings

Orders
Default Orders     Show Cause Orders
  Mediation     Samples

Default orders
If a default order is granted, a hearing will not be scheduled automatically.

Show Cause
If a show cause order is entered in a contempt case, the hearing date will be noted on that order and generally scheduled with in 45 days. 
This court does not use show cause orders in cases other then for contempt.

According to local advocates, this court has recently become stricter with respect to scheduling orders. If a party does not show up for a hearing, the court will issue a show cause order on its own motion. 

Mediation
Be they pro se or represented, this court will routinely order mediation for contested domestic cases where domestic violence is not present. While there used to be a number of referrals, they are now more often issuing orders. 
For child custody the mediation fee through court is $300 per person with a four-hour minimum.  
For marital property issues, the fee is $150/per person, with a two hour minimum per session.


Sample Orders
The Differentiated Case Management Report contains family law procedural information, a Domestic Case Management Plan, a comprehensive list of Contacts and sample orders. 


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.


Date of Last Legal Review: 10/7/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)