*The information on this page is general, could change at any time without Notice, and is not meant to replace Legal Advice.   This was last updated 1-21-2026.


Family Law is the same for all Courts in Maryland, however, the internal Court Procedure for how things are done varies from County to County.   For example, in the Montgomery County Family Law Court, they bifurcate Custody and Divorce issues and have two separate Trials for these things.   The Baltimore City Family Law Court usually does not bifurcate Custody and Divorce the way the Montgomery County Court does, but includes them both in the same Trial when both Divorce and Custody are involved.


The internal procedure in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, MD is more flexible compared to some other Courts in Maryland in that they usually automatically set Scheduling Conferences to be online, allow hearings to be set on any day of the week, and do not require you to "walk motions through" for Emergency Motions the way Anne Arundel County does, and they do not require you to send all Discovery Requests by the date of your Scheduling Conference, or within 30 days after it, the way the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County does.


The Circuit Court for Baltimore City is more flexible than most other Courts in Maryland in that it automatically sets all Scheduling Conferences AND all Settlement Conferences to be done online.   Most Courts in Maryland require you to be present in-person for Settlement Conferences, even if they do automatically set Scheduling Conferences to be online.


If you need to change the date of your Scheduling Conference after it is issued, the procedure in the Baltimore City Circuit Court is to place a conference call in to the Assignment Office with the Other Party (or their Attorney, if they have one) present on the call.   A new date can then be set right then.


In the Circuit Court for Baltimore County Scheduling Conferences can be set for any day of the week.   This is more flexible than some other Courts in Maryland that set scheduling conferences only on Mondays (i.e., Wicomico and Caroline).


After the Defendant files their Answer to a Complaint For Custody and/or Divorce, the Baltimore City Circuit Court will issue a date for a Scheduling Conference.   This is where both parties and their attorneys (if they have) must appear to set the date for a possible pendente lite hearing and Pre-Trial/Settlement Conference.   Some Courts, such as the Circuit Courts for Allegany County and Garrett County, still do not usually set Scheduling Conferences and just issue the hearing dates that will apply in the case.


The Scheduling Conference is where you will set the dates for your hearing, if requested, and your Settlement Conference, and is also the time to request a court-appointed Best-Interest Attorney for the child involved in the case and/or a Custody Evauation done by the Court, if desired.


If you do not request a pendente lite hearing at the Scheduling Conference, then they may Deny your request later if saying that "you had an opportunity to request and didn't."


At this time (January of 2026), the Circuit Court For Baltimore City, MD does still provide Custody Evaluations done by the Court.   This Court charges $600.00 for this service.   This service is not free in this Court like it is in the Baltimore County Circuit Court.   T Not all Courts in Maryland provide this service.   This could change at any time.


If a Best-Interest Attorney for the Child involved in the case is appointed for this case, the Circuit Court For Baltimore City MD requires a deposit from each of the parties for the service of a Best-Interest Attorney for the Child being provided.   Best-Interest Attorneys appointed by the Circuit Court For Baltimore City, MD can charge their normal hourly rate, and if/when this initial deposit is used up, the parties will be required to pay an additional amount.   This could change at any time.   Some other Courts in Maryland require a much higher initial deposit (like $10K for Anne Arundel County), and some other Courts in Maryland require much lower initial deposits (like $500 for Worcester County).   The Circuit Court for Baltimore City does not have a pre-established set amount required for this initial deposit like some other Courts do.


The Baltimore City Circuit Court can set Scheduling Conferences on any day.  


Scheduling Conferences in the Circuit Court For Baltimore City are usually set to be via Zoom without you having to ask, like you must do in Howard County by email, or by filing a Motion requesting, like you must do in many other counties if you want to appear remotely (i.e., Anne Arundel and Washington Counties, which may not be granted).


The purpose of a Scheduling Conference is to set dates for things like pendente lite hearings, Pre-Trial/Settlement Conferences, and possibly order things like mandatory Mediation, Custody Evaluation, and/or the appointment of a Best-Interest Attorney for the children involved in the case.


Pre-Trial/Settlement Conferences in the Circuit Court For Baltimore City MD can be set for any day and are usually scheduled to be online.


The purpose of a pendente lite hearing is to maintain the Family status quo when the other party has done something to disrupt this status quo and expedited relief is needed due to a Trial date not being available for several months.


Pendente Lite Hearings and Merits Trials in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, MD can be set for any day.   The Circuit Court for Baltimore County usually does not usually allow more than 3 hours for a pendente lite hearing.   You can file a Motion asking for a full-day pendente lite hearing, which might be granted if you explain why a full day is needed.


Uncontested and Contempt Hearings may be set for any day.


After the Scheduling Conference, a Scheduling Order will be issued.   This will contain deadlines and other requirements.   Some Courts (like Allegany County and Garrett County) usually do not issue Scheduling Orders for Family Law cases.   The Circuit Court for Baltimore County MD usually does issue a Scheduling Order.   Some Courts have more deadlines and requirements in their Scheduling Orders than others.


Here are some typical dealines and requirements of the Circuit Court For Baltimore City MD:


The Scheduling Orders from this Court usually state that All Discovery Requests must be sent within 90 days of the date of the Scheduling Conference.   This is much more flexible than Anne Arundel County, which usually states that all Discovery Requests much be sent by the date of the Scheduling Conference, but less flexible than Courts like Allegany and Garrett Counties that, at this time, still do not usually issue Schduling Orders at all.


Joint Statements Re: Parenting Time, Joint Statements Re: Property, and Child Support Worksheets must be filed at least 10 days before the Settlement Conference.


*It is very important for you to read the Scheduling Order issued in your case because it could have other deadlines in it.


*The information on this page is general, could change at any time without Notice, and is not meant to replace Legal Advice.