Family Services Program

The Circuit Court Family Law Clinic provides legal advice and information on family law matters including custody, divorce and trial preparation.  Assistance includes one-on-one consultations, workshops and tools for case organization and trial preparation. 

The Family Law Clinic is currently working under restricted operations due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency:

To make an appointment, PLEASE TEXT 240-285-9675 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:00 pm). You may expect a response within 24 business hours. If you prefer to call for an appointment, the line for PHONE CALLS is open Monday and Wednesday mornings, 9:00-11:00 am.

Para hacer una cita, por favor mande un texto a 240-285-9675 durante los horarios Lunes a Viernes 8:30 am-4:00 pm. Puede esperar una respuesta entre 24 horas. Si usted preferia llamar por una cita, puede llamar Lunes a Miercoles entre 9:00 am y 11:00 am. Esta linea es especificamenta para hacer citas.

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No walk-in appointments are available at this time.  As we transition to fully re-opening our Clinic, our intake procedures may change. Please refer back to this website regularly for updates: www.frederickcountymd.gov/SelfHelp

For tools and information on case preparation and case organization, please visit the website clientnotebook.com to view helpful videos (see video for Litigants) and organizational tools for download.

IMPORTANT:   By using the services of the Family Law Clinic by audio or video, you accept and understand that video conferencing has potential risks, including interruptions and technical difficulties.  The attorney or paralegal may need to end a session because of interruptions and difficulties and the Family Law Clinic is not responsible for providing any additional assistance.  The Family Law Clinic is also not responsible for any confidential information being shared by third parties who may enter into the conference either by your consent, in error (ie. hacking) or any other manner.  The audio or video sessions may NOT BE RECORDED under any circumstances and staff of the Family Law Clinic does not consent to any such recording.   The Family Law Clinic does not provide legal representation or attorneys to represent or accompany you at court proceedings.  The Family Law Clinic helps litigants better represent themselves until they are able to obtain an attorney.  

To hire a private attorney please visit Frederick Bar.

Co-Parenting Seminar

To access the co-parenting seminar, please visit http://frederick.onlineparentingprograms.com/.  The seminar is ordered by the court in all contested custody/access cases, is 6 hours in length, and covers the impact of conflict on children and strategies for parents to communicate and make decisions together on behalf of their children. Emphasis is placed on creating age appropriate parenting plans and preparation for mediation.  

FAQs:

• Q:  What do I do if I cannot afford the fee?  
  A:  Click the "Request Fee Waiver" text link below the program on the seminar sign up page.
• Q:  Is the seminar offered in a language other than English?
  A:  Yes, Spanish.
• Q:  Do I have to complete all six hours in one session?
  A:  No, the seminar may be completed in parts (e.g., in one hour increments).
• Q:  I do not have access to the internet.  What resources are available at the courthouse?
  A:  Computers with internet access are available at no cost on a first come, first serve basis in the Law Library which is located in the lower level of the courthouse.

The Court may appoint an attorney to represent the minor child or children.  Such an appointment may occur if the parties are unable to reach agreement AND there is a compelling reason why a child needs separate representation, such as the presence of mental health issues or allegations of abuse.  The attorneys that represent children have completed special training focused on supporting the best interests of children.  This training includes education concerning the developmental stages of children, interviewing children, and issues which may be present in high conflict cases. Parents are responsible for payment of the fees for the children’s attorney.  However, if the parents’ income is sufficiently low, limited grant funds through Family Services may be available.  A roster of court-approved attorneys who may represent children is available upon request by contacting the Family Services Administrator at 301.600.2023.

Complex custody disputes may be referred for evaluation by a mental health professional to provide evidence to the Court and to offer parenting plan recommendations to the parents and the judge. The custody evaluation process assesses parental strengths and challenges and identifies children’s individual developmental needs. Parents are responsible for payment of all costs associated with the evaluation. However, if parties are unable to pay AND they meet income criteria, the family may qualify for in-house custody evaluation services.  The Court employs an in-house custody evaluator to provide evaluations to income qualified parties.

Scheduling Conferences

A Status / Scheduling Conference is set immediately upon the filing of a family case.  These conferences are generally held approximately forty-five (45) days after the date of filing, hopefully giving sufficient time for the Defendant(s) to be served and possibly answer the complaint.  The purpose of the Scheduling Conference is to define the issues, clarify expectations, set dates, and impose a timeline for concluding the case. The Court may order services to support settlement.

Settlement Conferences

A Settlement Conference is an opportunity for the parties to inform the Court of the issues that have been settled and if there are any issues still outstanding. Parties and any lawyers will be expected to be present and make good faith efforts to resolve their case that day.  Additional services may be ordered at this time.