*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 Circuit Court for Washington County MD 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 Washington County, MD is that they are now requiring a Scheduling Conference for Custody and Divorce cases more than they used to do.


When they do require Scheduling Conferences, they are usually now set every other Thursday.


If you need to change the date of your Scheduling Conference after it is issued, the procedure is to file a Motion To Reschedule.


After the Defendant files their Answer to a Complaint For Custody and/or Divorce, the Montgomery County 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 Washington County, MD does not provide free Custody Evaluations done by the Court.   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 Washington County 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 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 (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 Montgomery County does not have a pre-established set amount required for this initial deposit like some other Courts do.


The Washington County MD Circuit Court usually sets Scheduling Conferences every other Thursday.


Scheduling Conferences in the Circuit Court for Washington County are usually set to be in-person. &bsp If you want to appear online, you would need to file a Motion requesting this.


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 Circuit Court for Washington County often has Mandatory Mediation and the fee for each party is usually $125.00.


Pre-Trial/Settlement Conferences in the Circuit Court For Washington County MD are often set on Mondays.   This could change at any time.   Online appearance for these is not usually allowed, unless a Joint Motion is filed requesting this, and the judge it has been assigned to agrees to this.


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 Washington County, MD can be set for any day.   The Circuit Court for Washington 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 Washington County MD usually does now 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 Washington County 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.