Family Court - Dorchester County

Filing Requirements    Orders

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

Scheduling
After the answer is filed, either a hearing or a scheduling conference will be scheduled.

Settlement Conferences
The Court will hold a settlement conference in cases where both parties are pro se and in cases where one party has representation.

Length of Time to Get a Hearing
If a party answers within 30 days the hearing (or at least a scheduling conference) will be set within 60 days.

Emergency Hearings - Pro Se Litigants
To request an emergency custody hearing, you must file a request along with something in writing (an affidavit). Be as specific as possible. You must show that it is a "true emergency," meaning that there is a danger to the health or welfare of the child.

It is possible, but extremely rare to be able to see a judge the same day the request for an emergency hearing is filed.

Who Will Hear The Case
Masters hear pendente lite, scheduling conferences, uncontested divorces, and (with the consent of the parties) custody or divorce if no property is involved.

Factors considered in whether a judge or a master would hear a case include: wishes of the parties, and the opinion of the Family Court Coordinator after reviewing their case. The judge is very people oriented and will pass along to the Family Court Coordinator things other judges might reject.

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: 10/6/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)