Family Services

Family Support Services
Kent County Circuit Court

Lori Jacobs
Family Law Coordinator
410-810-1059
[email protected]

The following Family Support Programs and Services are available to litigants of the Circuit Court for Kent County:

Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Custody/Access Mediation
  • Day-of-Court Mediation (DOC)
  • Marital Property Mediation
• Settlement Conference
• Family Law Assistance Program (FLAP)
• Parent Education
• Attorney Appointments for Children
• Supervised Visitation Program
• Home Study Investigations
• Substance Abuse Assessments
  • Hair Follicle Testing
• Adult Anger Management
• Mental Health Evaluation
• Family Counseling
• Family Support Service Referrals

Custody/Access Mediation

The Court may order parties with contested issues of custody/access to attend mediation. Parties may be ordered to attend child custody/access mediation through Community Mediation Upper Shore. If parties reach an agreement, the mediator will assist the parties in documenting resolutions into a written agreement which may be submitted to the Court. There is no charge for this service.

If private mediation is requested, attorneys and parties are encouraged to agree on a mediator. If there is no agreement, the Court will appoint a mediator from the designated list of child access mediators. Family Services maintains a list of qualified mediators for child access disputes that is available for review upon request. Family mediators may charge four hundred dollars ($400) per session and parties pay the mediator directly and in advance of each session. Each party pays one-half of the fees in advance and directly to the mediator.

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Day-of-Court (DOC) Mediation

Trained mediators from Community Mediation Upper Shore are available in the courtroom on select days so parties may begin mediation or at a minimum have their intake interview completed. Parties may elect to mediate and return to the courtroom before the end of the docket to report on the status of their progress. The Court may continue the case and allow parties to continue with mediation. A second Scheduling Conference, Status Conference, or Settlement Conference will be scheduled and if parties have reached an agreement, the agreement can be put on the record. If no agreement has been reached the case will be scheduled for an appropriate hearing on the issues.

Marital Property Mediation

The Court may order parties to mediate marital property issues. The court maintains a list of qualified mediators for marital property disputes which is available for review upon request. Attorneys and parties are encouraged to agree on a mediator. If there is no agreement the Court will appoint a mediator. Marital property mediators may charge four hundred dollars ($400) per sessions. Each party pays one-half of the fees in advance and directly to the mediator.

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Settlement Conference

Parties and their attorneys appear before a Retired Second Circuit Judge for a settlement conference on designated days each month at the Kent County Courthouse located at 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. If the case settles, attorneys and clients may enter the agreement on the record and submit a written agreement and/or order to the court. A merits hearing is set for cases that do not settle.

Family Law Assistance Program (FLAP)

The Kent County Family Law Assistance Program is held at the Kent County Courthouse, 2nd Floor. The Family Law Assistance Program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no charge. Read the flyer for hours and contact information.

A family law attorney is available to meet and consult with you on issues of divorce, custody, access, child support, modifications, or name change. The attorney will assess the strength and weakness of your position and articulate your options. Examples of legal assistance include providing appropriate forms, answering or clarifying questions about forms or procedure, making referrals to legal service providers and any other legal, agency, or community resources.

Information about other legal resources:

Parent Education

Parties may be ordered to complete and online co-parenting class. These classes are offered by Online Parenting Programs for a fee of $25.00 when ordered by the court. This is a self-directed, online educational class for divorcing/separated or never married parents. Additional courses are available if needed.

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Attorney Appointments for Children

In actions with contested issues involving child custody, child access, or the amount of support of the minor child, one or both parties may file with the court a motion to appoint child counsel. Child’s counsel may serve as a child advocate attorney, a best interest attorney and/or child’s privilege attorney. Parties are required to deposit a fee retainer in the attorney’s escrow account. The Court shall order either or both parties to pay these fees.

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Supervised Visitation Program

High Street Psychotherapy Visitation Center provides court ordered supervised visitation for families Kent County for minor children and their non-custodial parent. Supervised visitations are scheduled by the center for a two-hour meeting which includes windows for drop off and pick up.

Both the custodial parent and non-custodial parent must complete an intake session before supervised visitations may begin.

The fee for intake is one hundred ($100) for each party and the fee for visitation is fifty dollars ($50) per visit. The Court will direct who is the party responsible for payment of the fees.

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Home Study Investigations

By court order, the Kent County Department of Social Services (KCDSS) conducts home study investigations of one or both parties who live in Kent County, Maryland. The investigator prepares a written report of findings for filing with the Court. A fee of two hundred dollars ($200) is charged and must be paid in advance and directly to KDCSS before the investigation will begin. KCDSS requires sixty (60) days to complete the investigation. When a criminal background check is required, KCDSS will coordinate that process and include it in the report to the court for an additional fee.

Substance Abuse Assessments

Parties may be ordered to complete a substance abuse assessment. A substance abuse assessment may include urinalysis testing, interviews, and other diagnostic tools. The Court will issue orders for these services as needed. The fee for this service may vary depending on where the assessment is completed, and most of covered by insurance.

For a listing of providers in the area, please visit: kenthd.org/adult-health/addictions/outpatient

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Hair Follicle Testing

The Court may order parties to undergo hair follicle testing. The Court maintains a list of providers for this service and will direct parties by court order where testing is to take place. Fees for this service vary depending on the type of test ordered.

Fee waivers may be available for eligible parties. Please contact the Family Services Coordinator for more information regarding waivers.

Adult Anger Management

In contested domestic cases the Court may order a party to Adult Anger Management when a party has experienced negative outcomes related to anger or violence and who haven’t been involved in domestic violence.

Additionally, the Court may order a party to an Abuser Intervention Program if it is warranted. This program is designed to increase family safety and decrease domestic abuse. It is designed specifically for individuals who display abusive behavior within the family.

For more information, call 410-690-3222 or contact [email protected].

Mental Health Evaluation

Where a party’s mental health is at issue, the Court may order a mental health evaluation by a psychologist which may include but is not limited to the following: psychological testing, interviews, other diagnostic tools, review of prior mental health treatment records, and other health-related records. A final report is filed and sealed by the Court.

Family Counseling

The Court may make referrals for family counseling to private and public mental health counselors. Counseling services are available and include modalities such as individual, group, and family counseling. These same providers accept a range of payment options.

Family Support Service Referrals