Allegany Cnty. Cir. Ct. Family DCM Plan 4

Consistent with the Case Time Standards adopted by the Judicial Council, Constitutional

requirements and applicable Maryland Rules, it is the goal of this Plan to ensure that 98% of family

cases, with the exception of limited divorces, be concluded within 12 months (365 days) of the

filing date; and that 98% of limited divorce cases be concluded within 24 months (730 days) of the

filing date. A concluded disposition is considered by judgment or dismissal. In order to achieve this

goal, the Circuit Court is committed to resolving different categories of family cases, referred to as

case subtypes, within a regular and predictable time frame warranted by the needs of those cases.

For simpler cases, the warranted time frame may be shorter than 12 months.

1 Family cases have historically been called Civil Dom estic cases.

The DCM Plan for family case types does not include general civil (i.e. non-domestic relations case

types). 2 Family cases are the exclusive jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.

Case Management

The policies and procedures outlined in this Plan shall be implemented by the County

Administrative Judge, the Associate Judge, Family Law Magistrates assigned to hear family law and

child support cases, and their respective staff. The Associate Judge and the Family Law Magistrates

report to the County Administrative Judge. The County Administrative Judge supervises all aspects

of family case management and is ultimately responsible for the implementation and monitoring of

this DCM Plan, pursuant to Md. Rule 16-302(b). Upon the filing of a case, the Clerk’s Office assigns

judicial designation of the case alternating every other case between the two judges. The County

Administrative Judge, however, makes final decisions about whether and to whom a case should be

assigned, when necessary.

All judges and Family Law magistrates are responsible to comply with and implement in their

rulings the provisions of this Plan. Individual judges are responsible for the effective management

of cases assigned to them; however, the scheduling of assigned cases must always be coordinated

with the Assignment Office. Assigned cases should be managed to the extent possible consistent

with the provisions of this Plan, including adherence to the Case Time Standards.

Family Division Services

Family Division Services includes programs that are designed to facilitate conflict resolution and

improve outcomes in family cases. Some family services and programs are mandatory and will be

ordered by the Court during the case. Other services and programs are discretionary by referral of

the Court during a case, or they may be requested by either or both parties. Descriptions of family

services and programs are provided after the basic case management tracks are described below.

Family Tracks

A family case may follow four potential tracks to resolution. Tracks are defined based on the case

subtype. Tracks define expected case processing events, the timing of events, assignment, and the

expectations for case duration. The caseflow time standard for Circuit Court family cases, with the

exception of limited divorce cases, is 12 months [365 days] for 98% of cases and 24 months (730

2 See Civil DCM template for all general civil case types.

days) for 98% of limited divorce cases; but expected case duration is based on needed time to reach

resolution, which may be less or more than the time standard.

Table 1.1 – Family Tracks Case Types and Outcomes

Track Case Subtypes Expected Case Duration and Notes

Track 1 1. Uncontested Divorce Answer + 90 days = 120 days

Family Expedited 2. Uncontested or Minor Child Support Issues

3. Uncontested or Minor Child Access Issues

4. Annulment