Maryland Custody Law is the same for all Courts in Maryland, however, the policies regarding specific requirements and how and when things are scheduled for Custody cases vary from County to County.   For example, some Courts do not allow what they call "Hybrid Hearings" (where some people are in the courtroom and others are online) for Scheduling Conferences.


The Circuit Court for Wicomico County MD will allow Hybrid Hearings, with only some persons involved appearing by Zoom, and the others appearing in-person.   Since they will allow hybrid hearings, you don't have to coordinate with the Other Party to be able to do, but you must file a Motion requesting this for each Party and each Attoney wanting this, and this Motion must be filed ahead of time.


After the Defendant in the case files their Answer to a Complaint For Custody in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County MD, the clerk will usually issue a date for a Scheduling Conference.   This is where both parties and the Attorrney for each (if they have) must appear in Court.


This Scheduling Conference is required for the purpose of setting dates that will apply in the case, such as a pendente lite Hearing, if desired, pre-Trial/Settlement Conference, and Merits Trial.


An Order from a pendente lite hearing can only be a Temporary Order.   For an Order to be a "Final" Order, it must be issued from a "Merits" Trial.


The Scheduling Conference is also the time to reiterate a request in a Motion filed requesting a court-appointed Best-Interest Attorney for the child involved in the case, if desired, and reiterate a Motion filed requesting an Order for Supervised Visitation if desired.


The Family Law Court in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County utilizes the Lower Shore Family Visitation Center, located in Salisbury, MD to coordinate court-ordered supervised visitation and monitored exchanges tailored specifically to Family Law cases on the Eastern Shore in Maryland.   They also offer Therapeutic Visitations here.   This visitation center is currently open only on Thursdays and Saturdays.   This could change at any time.   See the website for this center at https://www.lifecrisiscenter.org/services/Lower-Shore-Family-Visitation-Center.htm


The Circuit Court For Wicomico County, MD does not provide Custody Evaluations from within the Court at this time.   This may change at any time.   Some Courts in Maryland do provide this service.   The Court may also order Mediation at this time.


At this time (December of 2025), the Circuit Court For Wicomico County MD requires a $500 deposit from each of the parties for the service of a Best-Interest Attorney, if one is appointed.   Best-Interest Attorneys appointed by the Circuit Court For Wicomico 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 that this.


The Wicomico County MD Circuit Court sets Schedulilng Conferences every other Monday starting at 9:00 am, unless a Motion To Attend Remotely via Zoom is granted and is set for 11:00 am.   Later Pre-Trial/Settlement Conferences can be set for any day of the week.


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 Merits Trial date not being available for several more months.


Pendente Lite Hearings and Merits Trials in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, MD can be set for any day of the week.   The Circuit Court for Wicomico County does not usually allow more than two hours, to be divided equally, 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 of the week.


After the Scheduling Conference, a Scheduling Order will usually be issued.   This will contain important Deadlines and other Requirements.   Some Courts in Maryland have more deadlines and requirements in their Scheduling Orders than others.


Here are some examples of dealines and requirements of Scheduling Orders issued from the Circuit Court For Wicomico County MD (Scheduling Orders issued from other Courts may be very different) and what the Court issues could change at any time:


All Discovery must be completed (including resolution of Discovery disputes) within 30 days before the date of the Merits Trial date.   Filing a Motion To Compel or Motion For Protective Order wlll not result in a general extension of the Discovery deadlines.


All pre-trial Motions and all Amendments to pleadings must be filed at least 20 days prior to the Merits Trial Date.


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


At least 10 days prior to the Pre-Trial/Settlement Conference both party shall file a Pre-Trial Statement that lists and individually identifies each Exhibit they plan to offer ("All medical records" will not suffice, their list of Witnesses they plan to call, updated Financial Statement (with the last 30 days), Child Support WorkSheet, Joint Parenting Plan, proposed Order regarding all issues on the docket.


Any updates to this Pre-Trial Statement must be filed at least 10 days before the Merits Trial date.


All subpoenas for Witnesses must be issued for the first day of Trial unless the Family Magistrate or Circuit Judge has given prior permission otherwise PRIOR to the beginning of Trial.


Each party shall shall pre-mark all exhibits in coorperation with a courtroom clerk.


The above rules mean that the farther out the Trial date is scheduled, the longer you have to file these things.   Some other Maryland Courts issue deadines that focus on being a certain amount of time from when the Scheduling Conference is held, so that even if the Trial is set far away, early deadlines will still apply.


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


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

Click here to request an appointment with a Maryland Custody Attorney, who has obtained Custody Orders desired by their Clients in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, MD


*As each Custody case is different, past success can never be a prediction of future success.