Harford County Circuit Court Document Filing Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Written request for postponement

A written postponement request must explain the reason for postponement and why a new date cannot be set within 21 days.

The request shall contain the reason for the postponement and why a new date cannot be set within the 21-day timeframe pursuant to the case time standards.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pretrial order

If the case is not settled at the Pretrial Conference, the Court must enter an order detailing the decisions made there.

If a case is not settled at the Pretrial Conference, the Court shall enter an order that recites in detail the decisions made at the Pretrial Conference.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed joint statement

Prepare a proposed joint statement at least 30 days before the due date.

At least 30 days before the due date, prepare a proposed joint statement and serve it on the other party/parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Witness list

Before the hearing, attorneys and self-represented litigants should file a witness list with each witness’s full name, email address, and telephone number.

Witnesses: Prior to the hearing the attorneys and self-represented litigants should file with the Clerk of the Court a list of witnesses, with full names, email addresses and telephone numbers.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Required forms

A prevailing party seeking enforcement must file any required forms with the court.

To seek enforcement, the prevailing party must file any required forms with the court,

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed child support guidelines

Draft Child Support Guidelines must be provided to the settlement judge for the Settlement Conference.

The draft guidelines must be provided to the settlement judge for use in the Settlement Conference.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Executed settlement agreement

A matter will not be removed from the calendar until an executed agreement is submitted to the Court; otherwise, the parties and attorneys must appear to place the settlement agreement on the record.

However, a matter will not be removed from the calendar until an executed agreement is submitted to the Court; otherwise, parties and attorneys must appear to place the settlement agreement on the record.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Circuit court domestic case information form

For selected case types with multiple track options, the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney must designate a track based on the case’s characteristics, indicate it on the Circuit Court Domestic Case Information form, and include that form with the filing.

Track designations are set at filing. A plaintiff, or plaintiff’s attorney, is required to designate a track for selected case types that may have multiple track options, based on the characteristics of the case. The track designation must be indicated on the Circuit Court Domestic Case Information form which must accompany the filing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Family law pretrial order

The Family Law Pretrial Order must specify the anticipated trial length and the numbers of witnesses and experts.

In completing the Family Law Pretrial Order, the judge shall specify the anticipated length of trial, number of witnesses, and number of experts.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Joint statement

If you cannot agree on a comprehensive parenting plan, complete the Joint Statement of the Parties Concerning Decision-Making Authority and Parenting Time (CC-DR-110).

If you are not able to agree on a comprehensive parenting plan (for example, you agree on some but not all issues important to your family), complete the Joint Statement of the Parties Concerning Decision-Making Authority and Parenting Time (CC-DR-110).

WARNINGCivil cases

Add any additional holidays that apply to the family.

The following is not a complete list of holidays. Add holidays that apply to your family (other school holidays, religious observances, Halloween, New Year’s Eve/day, etc.)

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Track change request

An attorney or party who disagrees with a track assignment may request a change in writing to the civil assignment coordinator, with notice to the other side and reasons for the requested change.

If an attorney or party disagrees with the designated track assignment, the attorney or party may submit to the civil assignment coordinator, with notice to the other side, a request in writing to change the track, stating the reason(s) why a different track assignment is needed.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Request for waiver of prepaid costs

A plaintiff seeking a fee waiver must file the Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-089) as one stated basis for waiver.

Filing by the plaintiff of the Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-089);

WARNING

Applies to

Waiver of rights form

In interpreter cases, the WOR must be completed on the record with the interpreter.

Interpreter cases - the WOR will be done on the record with the interpreter.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Written request for exceptions hearing

The Court may decide exceptions without a hearing unless a party requests one in writing.

The Court may decide exceptions without a hearing unless a party files a written request for a hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

General information form

Parties referred to civil mediation receive a general information form to complete about their side of the case, which is provided to the mediator in advance.

Upon referral to mediation for a civil case, the parties will receive a general information form to complete regarding their side of the case, which will be provided in advance to the assigned mediator for an understanding of the specific issues to be mediated.

WARNING

Applies to

Request for earlier hearing

A request for an earlier review or permanency planning hearing must be written, state the reasons, and receive case-by-case approval.

Any request for a review hearing and/or permanency planning hearing to be scheduled earlier than the time frames listed in the Juvenile DCM Plan must be filed in writing with the juvenile court setting forth the reasons for an earlier date. CJP § 3-823(c). Approval for an earlier hearing will be done on a case by case request.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for postponement

A postponement motion should state specific reasons and, if possible, the positions of all other parties.

The motion should include specific reasons for the postponement and if possible the position of all other parties.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Annual continuing education submission

The amendments establish centralized processes for applying to become a court-approved practitioner and submitting annual continuing education requirements to MACRO.

For Mediators/ADR Practitioners: new amendments to the Md. Rules in Title 17 – Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) went into effect July 1, 2025. These amendments establish new centralized processes for application to become a court-approved practitioner and for submission of annual continuing education requirements to the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

WARNINGCivil cases

Select one option for the winter-break parenting-time schedule.

Winter break- (choose one)

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Interpreter request

An interpreter request must identify the needed language, any appropriate dialect, and the person who needs the interpreter.

Requests for interpreters must be specific as to the language and, if appropriate, the particular dialect that may be needed. The request must also specify for whom the interpreter is needed.

WARNING

Applies to

Parenting plan form

Bring the completed parenting plan form to the pre-trial or settlement conference.

Bring the completed form to the pre-trial/settlement conference, where the court will determine which issues are in dispute.

WARNINGCivil cases

Identify the parties for each holiday and provide the beginning and ending times.

Fill in the blanks with your names to indicate where the child(ren) will be for the holidays. Provide the beginning and ending times.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Parenting plan

Additional sheets may be attached if needed to complete the form.

Attach additional sheets if needed.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Track change request

A written request to change a track assignment must state why a different assignment is needed.

An attorney or a party who disagrees with the designated track assignment, may file a request in writing with the Clerk’s Office for a change in the track, stating the reason(s) why a different track assignment is needed.

WARNINGCourt notice

Applies to

Spoken language interpreter request

To request a spoken language interpreter, please fill out a Request for Spoken Language Interpreter and submit the completed form to the Clerk's Office for the Circuit Court for Harford County.

To request a spoken language interpreter, please fill out a Request for Spoken Language Interpreter and submit the completed form to the Clerk's Office for the Circuit Court for Harford County.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Civil case filing

The listed case-information, service, and prepaid-cost-waiver forms may be required with a civil complaint or to complete filing and service.

The following forms may be required to be attached to a complaint in civil cases, or to complete a filing and service.  CC-DCM 002 Civil Non-Domestic Case Information Report  CC-DR-55 Affidavit of Service (Private Process)  CC-DR-56 Affidavit of Service (Certified Mail)  CC-DC-089 Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs

WARNING

Applies to

Parenting plan tool

Bring this tool to help the mediator focus on issues involving your child(ren).

Bring this tool to help the mediator focus on issues involving your child(ren).

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Scheduled hearing or trial change request

Use form CC-DC-070, Motion for Postponement, to request a change to a scheduled hearing or trial at the Circuit Court.

The following form is used to request a change in a scheduled hearing or trial at the Circuit Court. CC-DC-070 Motion for Postponement

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Trial readiness checklist

The trial readiness checklist should include an acknowledgement that all discovery has been completed, court-ordered mediation has been completed, and that all motions have been filed.

The trial readiness checklist should include an acknowledgement that all discovery has been completed, court-ordered mediation has been completed, and that all motions have been filed.

WARNINGCivil cases

(choose one)

(choose one)

WARNINGCivil cases

Add family-specific special events or occasions to the holiday schedule.

Holiday schedule- How will holidays be defined? Add special events or occasions important to your family.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Parenting plan

Additional lines or sheets may be used if needed to list the minor child(ren).

This parenting plan is for the following minor child(ren) (add lines or attach additional sheets if needed):

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Family case complaint or filing

The listed forms may be required with a family-case complaint or to complete filing and service.

The following forms may be required to be attached a complaint in family cases, or to complete a filing and service. CC-DCM 002 Domestic Case Information Form CC-DR-55 Affidavit of Service of Process CC-DR-56 Affidavit of Service (Certified Mail) CC-DC-089 Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Complaint and answer

Case types 1–9 are not required to file a case information sheet with the complaint or answer.

Case types 1-9 do not require a case information sheet to be filed with the complaint or the answer.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Parenting plan

The form is provided for creating a parenting plan for the child(ren).

Use this form to create a parenting plan for your child(ren).

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Parenting plan tool

Parties who reach agreement may complete and sign one Parenting Plan tool and submit it as their parenting agreement.

If parties reach agreement they may complete and sign one Parenting Plan tool to submit as their parenting agreement.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Parenting plan

The form may be completed separately, together, or with a mediator.

Complete this form separately, together, or with a mediator.

INFO

Applies to

Parenting plan tool

The parenting plan form does not need to be completed before mediation.

You do not need to complete the form before mediation but think about topics you want to discuss.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Maryland rule 9 207 joint statement

A final joint statement is not required at the Settlement Conference.

Although a final joint statement is not required at the Settlement Conference

INFO

Applies to

Parenting plan

Use a Maryland Parenting Plan Tool (CC-DR-109), which you will get at or before your first court appearance. Or, find it at mdcourts.gov/court-forms/ccdr109.pdf.

Use a Maryland Parenting Plan Tool (CC-DR-109), which you will get at or before your first court appearance. Or, find it at mdcourts.gov/court-forms/ccdr109.pdf.