Family law case procedure has undergone tremendous change this year. Cases are now processed with more efficiency and predictability. The Family Law Coordinator and the Assistant Family Law Coordinator review all domestic cases except Howard County Department of Social Service and child support cases, guardianships, and adoptions. The office is not permitted to offer legal advice, however, can answer any procedural or general questions regarding family law case procedure. Our primary goals are to ensure cases are processed timely and to order the appropriate alternate dispute resolution measures for the best interest of the parties.

The Court is also committed to increasing and updating family services. Described below are our family services and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs. For more information about the Family Law Office, please call Lisa Mohink, Family Law Coordinator, at 410-313-2225.

Family Law Programs and Services

1. Scheduling Conferences: Most contested domestic cases are scheduled for a scheduling conference. The conferences are scheduled by the Family Law Office and conducted by the Family Law Coordinator. All postponements can be faxed directly to the Family Law Office at 410-313-2413 and re-set accordingly.

2. Domestic Facilitation: The Court operates a volunteer based facilitator program in an effort to assist parties to settle their case. There are two distinct ways in which a case may participate in this program. First, a facilitator will be available at the time of scheduling conferences. Secondly, facilitation may be court ordered in a case.

3. Beginning July 1, 2008, the Family Law Clinic will be open on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

The Family Law Clinic is located in the Circuit Court, Room 411A, in front of Courtroom #5. An attorney from Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services will be available to provide free consultation on how to represent oneself and complete forms for family law matters, such as custody, divorce, domestic violence, modification of child support, visitation and other family law issues. If you have any questions about the Clinic, please call the Family Law Coordinator, Lisa Mohink, at 410-313-2225.

4. Mediation in Child Custody Cases: Mediation is mandatory in contested custody and visitation cases, unless there have been allegations of domestic violence. Parents will be ordered to attend two, two hour mediation sessions with a court approved and qualified mediator. The order for mediation is generated by the Family Law Office at the scheduling conference. Counsel does not have to attend custody/visitation mediation. Parties are responsible for the fee.

5. Property Mediation: Property mediation may also be ordered at the time of the scheduling conference. Parties must agree to participate in this type of mediation. Counsel does not have to attend mediation, although the mediator may request that they do so. Parties will be ordered to attend two, two hour sessions with a court approved and qualified mediator. Parties are responsible for the fee.

6. Parenting Seminars: Parenting seminars are conducted by the National Family Resiliency Center (410-740-9553) in Columbia, Maryland. The seminars are to assist parent living apart to raise children. Parties are responsible for the fees.

7. Mediation/Parenting Seminar Fund: The Court has a fund for low income litigants to assist with the fees of court ordered mediation and the parenting seminar. Litigants are required to submit a fee waiver request to the Family Law Office. The request will be approved or denied by the Family Law Coordinator using the income guides from MVLS. Upon approval, the court will pay the entire cost of mediation and/or the parenting seminar.

8. Child Custody Evaluation: When parents are not able to agree upon a parenting plan for their children and the case meets the criteria listed in the Differentiated Case Management Plan, the Court’s social worker is able to conduct a custody evaluation. The Court determines and orders the custody evaluation. Parties may make a verbal request at the scheduling conference or the Court may order an evaluation. Parties who have the financial ability may be required to secure a private evaluation. In most instances, the parties may need to choose between a custody evaluation and the appointment of an attorney for the minor children to avoid duplication of efforts.

9. Child Counsel: The Court may appoint a child counsel in contested domestic cases. See Maryland Rule 9-205.1 for a thorough description of all factors associated with the appointment of a child’s attorney. A copy of the rule and appendix can be found at www.courts.state.md.us in the 157th report. Parties are responsible for the fees.

10. Parent Coordination: Beginning in June 2007, the court will maintain a list of parenting coordinators. Parent Coordination is a service designed to assist parents with child rearing after custody has been decided by the court. This service requires the consent of both parties before the court will order participation. Parenting Coordination has been an asset in other jurisdictions by helping families resolve issues. The qualifications for a Parenting Coordinator for the Howard County Circuit Court are: (1) mental health practitioners with parent coordination training, a master’s degree, and experience working with families of separation and divorce; (2) attorneys with 40 hour mediation training and 20 hour custody/access mediation training. Parties are responsible for fees. For more information, please call Patricia Bright, LCSW-C at the Court, 410-313-5959.

11. The Circuit Court opened the Howard County Supervised Visitation Center in January 2008. The center provides a neutral, safe environment for children having contact with non-custodial parents. We provide supervised visits, as well as monitored exchanges. This service requires a court order and a mandatory orientation. There is no fee for this service. The Center is located at the North Laurel-Savage Multi Service Center in Laurel, Maryland and appointments are necessary. Center hours are Fridays from 4:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information contact the family law office at (410) 313-2225.

For more general information regarding family law or to access any family law forms, please visit:
Maryland Judiciary (www.court.state.md.us)
Peoples Law Library (www.peopleslaw.org)
Howard County Department of Social Services (www.dhr.state.md.us/howard.htm)