Last updated 12/17/07

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Family Court Support Services

Family Court Support Services can offer referrals to a variety of types of assistance in handling divorce and custody matters. The types of services and referrals vary by county. A brief summary of current services can be found here. Also ask to speak to the Family Support Coordinator at the Court for help.


ALLEGANY: Custody/Visitation Mediation - offers mediation from a list of court approved mediators. The cost is $40/hr/person, but a waiver program and sliding scale are available.

A Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) mediation program is in the development stages.

 

ANNE ARUNDEL:  

Facilitator Program - volunteer attorneys serve on scheduling conference days; a Master immediately refers any case with issues that may be immediately resolved. If an agreement is reached, parties reappear before a Master and place the agreement on record.

Custody/Visitation Mediation – parties are referred to court-approved mediators and attend at least two 2-hr sessions at $75/party/session. Fee waiver is available. If an agreement is reached, the mediator reduces it to writing, parties sign it and the court incorporates into its order.

Property Alternative Dispute Resolution – parties are referred to court-approved mediators and attend at least one 2-hr session. Fee is $150/party/session, but fee waiver is available.

Emergency Mediation - the FSSC provides emergency intervention for parties in crisis; results are reported to the Court the same day.  

 

BALTIMORE CITY:  

Family Mediation Service - Sheppard Pratt Family Mediation Services.

Volunteer Lawyer Settlement Conference - court-approved members of the bar meet with parties in an attempt to work out a settlement. Administered by the Bar Association of Baltimore City with committee oversight. 

 

BALTIMORE COUNTY: 

Custody/Visitation Mediation - conducted by the Custody and Mediation Division of the Court with 6 fully trained mediators. No fees paid by parties. 

 

CALVERT:   

Custody/Visitation Mediation – Mediators are assigned from a 6-person panel. Fee waiver guidelines are in place, or fees are $55/hr/person. Parties are ordered into two, 2-hr sessions (if necessary).

Property Mediation – Offered from list of court-approved mediators. 

 

CAROLINE:   

Offers mediation from a court-approved list of providers. There are no program guidelines at this point. Fees are determined by each mediator and paid by the parties as the court orders. Waiver available.

CARROLL:   

Court Mediator - provides mediation for those who cannot afford private mediators and who do not need a home study (because the mediator also conducts home studies). The mediator also acts as court facilitator.

Custody/Visitation Mediation - mediation by 4 court-approved mediators.

Property Mediation - mediation of property, alimony, pension and child support issues by court-approved mediators.

Juvenile Mediation – A new program is in development under grants from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, FSP and the Governor’s Office. 

 

CECIL:

Offers custody/visitation mediation from one of 4 mental heath professionals from the Family Services Association at a fee of $100 per hour, divided between the parties by the court, or from 3 court-approved lawyers at fees of $100-$150/hr. Two sessions lasting 2 hours each are normally ordered. 

 

CHARLES:   

Mediation - offers mediation from a court-approved list of 5 providers. The facility is handicap accessible and telephonic conferencing is available.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee - provides accountability and support for mediators. They meet with mediators, draft the mediation policy manual and are initiating mediation evaluation & observation. 

 

DORCHESTER:  

Offers mediation from a court approved list of providers. Fee is $65/hr/person and the court usually orders 2 sessions lasting 2 hours each. They are exploring the possibility of a Community Conferencing for juveniles. 

 

FREDERICK:

Offers mediation from a court approved list of providers. $100/person/session, but fee waiver is available. Court orders 2 sessions lasting 2 hours each.

 

GARRETT:

Mediation provided by private contractual provider. 

Supervised Visitation Program - began June 15, 2002 and operates the second and third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Oakland Town Hall.

 

HARFORD:

Custody/Visitation Evaluation - evaluators are geared toward dispute resolution, sliding scale fee. Their services are not confidential.

Custody/Visitation Mediation - either family court services or private providers mediate disputes. Sliding scale fee available.

Parent Access - Mediation, evaluation, facilitated visitation and parent education. Services are free.

Dependency Mediation - for Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) and Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) cases. Mediation can involve birth parents, adoptive/foster parents, attorney, social workers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and kids (pilot project). 

 

HOWARD:

Offers mediation from a court approved list of providers. $75/person/hr. Fee waiver is available. Two sessions of 2 hrs each are usually scheduled.

KENT:

Offers mediation from a court approved list. Fee waiver is available. They would like to develop a Pro Se Mediation Clinic for visitation agreements and parents without custody orders. 

 

MONTGOMERY:  

Custody/Visitation Mediation - Four part-time mediators conduct two-session mediation services at no cost to the parties. A Spanish speaking mediator is also available.

Property ADR - Private provider.

Facilitator Program - experienced attorneys facilitate settlements during scheduling conference dockets. If an agreement is reached, it is immediately placed on the record. The fee to the Court is $75 per case, but parties receive this service for free. 

 

PRINCE GEORGE’S: 

Custody/Visitation Mediation - parties are referred to court-approved mediators for a minimum of two 2-hr sessions. Fee is $50/person/session and fee waiver is available. Mediator prepares any parenting agreements and submits to the Court for incorporation into the order.

Property Mediation – Referrals are to court-approved mediators,

Emergency Mediation - Court has 2 full-time mediators to provide emergency mediation. 

 

QUEEN ANNE’S:  

Department of Social Services (DSS) runs a mediation program. The fee is set by DSS and is divided by the parties and paid to DSS. The mediator prepares any agreement and submits to the court. 

 

SOMERSET:   

Custody/Visitation Mediation - 5 mediators receive cases on rotating basis. Any parenting agreement reached is submitted to the court. Fee is $100/party/2 hr session. Fee waiver is available.

Property Mediation - 1 private mediator is available. Any agreement is read into the record at a court hearing. 

 

ST. MARY’S:  

Custody/Visitation Mediation - Offers mediation from a list of 4 court-approved mediators. Court orders all contested cases to 2 custody/visitation mediation sessions lasting 2 hours each. Fee is $50/person/session.

Tomorrow’s Child Mediation - non-profit community organization that uses a co-mediation team to facilitate agreements in highly emotional cases. Free. 

 

TALBOT:   

Offers mediation from a list of court-approved mediators. With the order, a “mediation packet” is sent to parties describing process. Fee is $200/session and court proportions fee between the parties. Fee waiver is available. Usually 2 sessions are ordered. Mediator reduces any agreement to writing and sends to parties & attorneys. 

 

Washington:

If you specifically request mediation, they have a list of approved mediators.

 

Wicomico:   

Custody/Visitation Mediation - Offered through one of 5 court approved mediators. Parties ordered to attend a minimum of two, 2- hour sessions (after parenting seminar). Fee is divided and waiver program available. Mediator prepares any Parenting Agreement for each party to share with counsel.

Volunteer Attorney Settlement Panel for Property Alternative Dispute Resolution - provides mediation for property and financial issues through one of 23 volunteer attorneys. Free. 

 

Worcester:

Mediation - $75/person/session, sliding fee available.

Volunteer Attorney Settlement Panel - free.

Property/Alimony Mediation - sliding scale fee available.

Pro Se Family Mediation – There is a one time $25 fee, and sliding scale available.

Community Conferencing Initiatives - provided by Berlin Hot Spots Program for juvenile cases

Civil Mediation and Settlement Conferences - also available.

                                                                                                                                     Last date of legal review 12/03(MLAN/AC/)

Source: Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN)

Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  See our section on Finding Legal Help.

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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