Carroll Cnty. Cir. Ct. DCM Plan K

Consolidated DCM Plans – 03.28.2018 6

1. Tracks. At the Scheduling Conference date, or by prior fili ng of a scheduling

conference waiver, the magistrate will assign all family law cases under this Plan to one of the three

following tracks:

a. Family Law Expedited Track. The trial date for a Family Law Expedited Track

case is approximately 90 days after the Scheduling Conference date. This normally occurs where the

contested complaint for absolute divorce (a) does not contain a request for pendente lite relief involving

custody, visitation, support, or use and possession of property; and (b) contested marital property issues

are simple.

b. Family Law Standard Track. The trial date for a Family Law Standard Track

case is the later of approximately 150 days after the Scheduling Conference date, or 60 days after the

earliest date that any party will be entitled to an absolute divorce, as indicated by the pleadings, but in

no event later than 11 months from filing of a complaint for absolute divorce. A Pretrial Conference

date will also be scheduled approximately 60 days prior to the trial date.

c. Family Law Extended Track. Cases eligible for a Family Law Extended Track

must be commenced with a complaint in which the tit le lists a limited divorce as the first or only

divorce relief sought. The trial date for a Family Law Extended Track case is approximately 500 days

after the Scheduling Conference date but not longer than 11 months from the filing of a complaint for

absolute divorce. A Pretrial Conference date will also be scheduled approximately 60 days prior to the

trial date.

2. Hearing and Trial. If practical, hearings and trials will proceed on consecutive days

until completed, except that any case for which an inaccurate time estimate has been given ordinarily

will not take precedence over a trial or hearing sc heduled to begin thereafter. No evidence shall be

received by proffer in or after any hearing or trial, unless all parties fully agree. This applies to all cases

regardless of whether the parties are self-represen ted or represented by counsel. Unless otherwise

ordered by the Court, cases must be tried on the assigned trial date or dismissed.