Family Services Program

410-334-3110
410-334-3114 - Fax

Jennifer Hapner
Family Support Services Coordinator

The Office of Family Services offers pre-trial interventions and implementation of court-ordered services for each party involved in a domestic dispute. These services include alternative dispute resolution, pre-trial settlement conferences through the Magistrate's Office, appointment of counsel for minor children, substance abuse evaluation and referral, home studies, child custody and property mediation, co-parenting seminars, psychological evaluation, custody evaluation, supervised visitation and monitored exchange, and all compliance issues. Available services are listed below:

County Services

• Co-Parenting Education Seminar - through the Lower Shore Family Center
• Mediation
• Supervised Visitation and Monitored Exchange - the Lower Shore Family Center
• Volunteer Attorney Settlement Panel - Wicomico County Bar Association
• Family Law Help Center
• Life Crisis
• Wicomico County Child Support Services/Enforcement
• Wicomico County Bar Association Designated MVLS Liaison
• Legal Aid Bureau - Lower Eastern Shore Office
• Wicomico County Victim-Witness Coordinator

Statewide Services

• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) - In Cooperation with the County Bar Association
• Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.
• Family Law Hotline
• Legal Forms Hotline
• Maryland Disability Law Center
• Peoples’ Law Library of Maryland

County Services

Co-parenting Educational Seminar - Lower Shore Family Center

The Center offers the Co-Parenting Seminar to litigants who are court-ordered as well as from the community. They provide information which will help parents understand how their children are affected by separation and divorce, and teach them the skills to deal with these effects. The Co-Parenting Seminar is a six-hour seminar offered online.

Online Parenting Programs
Available in English & Spanish
Low-Income/Indigent Discounts
Phone: 866-504-2883
support@onlineparentingprograms.com
*Also addresses Never Married Co-Parents

Mediation

Mediation services are ordered for litigants in issues involving custody/visitation and property. Each party is referred to a court-approved mediator who conducts the sessions in Wicomico County.

Supervised Visitation And Monitored Exchange - The Lower Shore Family Visitation Center

The Lower Shore Family Visitation Center and Life Crisis Center have formed a partnership to provide Supervised Visitation/Monitored Exchange for Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties. The Center offers a safe and neutral location for divorced or separated non-custodial parents to exchange or visit their children and to rebuild a healthy parent-child relationship. Supervised Visitation and/or Monitored Exchange must be Court-Ordered, and can only be arranged through the Family Services Coordinator for the litigants’ county. There are limited hours of operation and a fee for each service.

Volunteer Attorney Settlement Panel - Wicomico County Bar Association

This program is a free service offered through the Court by a cadre of experienced Family Law attorneys. The panel consists of members of the WCBA who meet with parties and their counsel to effectuate a settlement or narrow the issues before trial. Arrangements are facilitated through Family Services.

Family Law Help Center

The Family Law Help Center is available to self-represented litigants every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m.-noon and Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m (excluding court holidays) Those in need of assistance with Family Law matters (divorce, custody, visitation, child support, guardianship, name change) will have the opportunity to meet with an attorney. Family Law Center attorneys do not represent center users in court but can assist them in selecting appropriate forms, completing those forms, and referring individuals to additional agencies and services as appropriate.

Life Crisis

In cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child sexual assault, child physical assault, etc., there are services and counseling offered to both the victim and the perpetrator on a sliding scale basis. No one is turned away for inability to pay.

Wicomico County Child Support Services / Enforcement

Free services for individuals receiving public assistance (temporary cash assistance [TCA] or medical assistance [MA]) through the state. All other Applicants are charged $25.00. The Assistant Attorney General, Ray Jarvis, Esquire, handles these cases for the Department of Social Services.

Wicomico County Bar Association Designated MVLS Liaison

There is a pro bono liaison who is designated as the vice-president of the Wicomico County Bar Association. Cases are assigned by this attorney in conjunction with MVLS for referred pro bono cases, usually domestic matters.

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.

Provides legal services in civil (not criminal) matters where the well-being of children is immediately threatened. The Bureau also handles problems in the following areas: housing, public benefits (such as unemployment, AFDC, and Social Security) and problems of senior citizens. Also provides legal services for migrant farm workers. Services extremely limited in some counties.

Wicomico County Victim-Witness Coordinator

The State's Attorney's Office offers support, guidance, and information to the victims and witnesses involved in cases being prosecuted through that office. They will help with completing forms, familiarization with procedure, and provide the support needed to help the victim and/or witness through the Judicial system.

Statewide Services

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) - In Cooperation with the County Bar Association

Non-profit free legal help. In order to qualify, the litigant's household income must fall within their income guidelines and have a matter that can be resolved by using the DOM REL forms. Covers: consumer problems, bankruptcy, govt. benefits, tax audits, private pension benefits, divorce, custody, guardianship, wills, power of attorney, etc.

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.

Provides legal services in civil (not criminal) matters where the well-being of children is immediately threatened. The Bureau also handles problems in the following areas: housing, public benefits (such as unemployment, AFDC, and Social Security) and problems of senior citizens. Also provides legal services for migrant farm workers. Services extremely limited in some counties. http://www.mdlab.org

Family Law Hotline

Volunteer attorneys answer basic questions about Maryland family law, such as how to obtain a separation, child custody, child support, and ways to escape family violence. Litigants must be income eligible and provide basic data required by funding source.

Legal Forms Helpline

For questions about completing and filing the Domestic Relations (DOM REL) forms or more information about the court process. A family law attorney and/or paralegal will provide the assistance and advise regarding the process for notifying the other side and how to respond to pleadings served on the caller. Tuesday and Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM; Wednesday 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Maryland Disability Law Center

Legal assistance for the disabled, e.g., special education, social security benefits, vocational rehabilitation, protective services, guardianship, nursing home advocacy, and legal services to Children in Need of Assistance.

Peoples’ Law Library Of Maryland

This free Internet site contains information and forms on Maryland Family Law. Public Internet terminals are available in many public libraries. https://www.peoples-law.org/homepage