Judge David L. Williams

Applies to

Termination of parental rights petition

A separate petition must be filed for each child in a termination-of-parental-rights case, with an individual case number assigned to each proceeding.

Applies to

Adoption or termination of parental rights petition

Must include

case number

Every adoption or termination-of-parental-rights petition must include the case number of any underlying juvenile case and the name of any previously appointed guardian ad litem.

Applies to

Request for final hearing

A request for final hearing may not be made until the state child protective service agency report and any guardian ad litem report have been filed.

The movant must tell the Clerk how much time is needed to hear the motion.

Attorneys filing motions for hearing before the Circuit Judge must inform the Circuit Clerk of the time required.

If a motion requires more than 30 minutes, attorneys must contact the Circuit Judge's office or the Domestic Relations Commissioner's office to arrange a different hearing time.

Deadline

5 business days

The original motion must be filed by the Clerk's Office closing time five business days before the Rule Day on which it will be heard.

For an uncontested adoption, the hearing must be held within 30 days after a request for final hearing is filed.

Immediately after filing a petition for involuntary termination of parental rights, the petitioner must obtain a pretrial date.

Fee

600

Fees assessed in a case may not exceed $600, except in extraordinary circumstances recommended by the circuit judge and approved by the Chief Justice.

Fee

200

Additional fees of up to $200 may be assessed if a case is reopened.

Fee

15

Fees assessed in an uncontested divorce may not exceed $15.