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 Charles County 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.


After the Defendant files their Answer to a Complaint For Custody and/or Divorce, the Charles County Circuit Court will issue a date for what they call a Settlement 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 Trial.   Some Courts, such as the Circuit Courts for Allegany County and Garrett County, do not usually set Settlement Conferences and just issue the dates that will apply in this case.


This Settlement Conference in Charles County is like a combination of a Scheduling Conference and Pre-Trial Conference in some other Courts in Maryland and is also the time to request a court-appointed Best-Interest Attorney for the child involved in the case, &nsp The Circuit Court For Charles County, MD does not do Custody Evaluations from within the Court at this time.   Some Courts in Maryland do provide this service.


At this time (December of 2025), the Circuit Court For Charles County MD requires a $750 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 Charles County, MD can charge their normal hourly rate, and if/when this 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, and some other Courts in Maryland require much lower initial deposits.


The Charles County MD Circuit Court can set Settlement Conferences on any day.


These are usually set to be via Zoom. 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.


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 Charles County, MD can be set for any day.   They do 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 also be set any day.


After the Settlement Conference, a Scheduling Order will be issued.   This will contain deadlines and other requirements.   Some Courts do not issue Scheduling Orders for Family Law cases.   The Circuit Court for Charles County MD usually does.   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 Charles County MD:


All Discovery must be completed within 90 days of the date of the Scheduling Conference.


No undisclosed documents or witnesses shall be introduced at Trial or Hearing.


*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.