Maryland sets circuit court filing fees uniformly statewide, so the $165 civil filing fee (Courts Article § 7-202, per the Judiciary's Circuit Court Fee Schedule) applies in Annapolis just as in any other Maryland county — it isn't an Anne Arundel-specific number. If you can't afford it, the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County offers its own Motion for Waiver of Prepayment of Filing Fees, plus a separate Motion for Waiver of Family Services Fees for court-ordered mediation or parenting classes. With Marble Law, you pay only for the services you need.

Once you file, the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County returns the summons to you for service unless you request the Sheriff's Office handle it, for $40 per person paid directly to the Sheriff; many filers use a private process server instead. The court describes a general 30-to-90-day window for your spouse to respond, depending on how and where they're served.

After your spouse answers the complaint, the court sets a Family Law Scheduling Conference — typically 45 to 60 days later — before a Family Magistrate or Scheduling Conference Administrator rather than a judge. That conference identifies disputed issues, orders any required mediation or parenting class, and sets the timeline toward a Settlement/Pre-Trial Conference and, if needed, a Merits Hearing.

If custody or visitation is contested, the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County generally orders both parents to two 2-hour sessions with a court-certified private mediator, at $200 per person, per session. If you can't afford it, request a fee waiver by filing a motion and supporting affidavit within 15 days of the mediation order.

If you and your co-parent have a minor child together, the court will typically order both of you to complete FLOW, the Family Law Orientation Workshop — a 6-hour online program preparing parents for the transition and for custody/visitation mediation. Attendance is mandatory once ordered, and skipping it can result in a contempt finding.

Based on the court's case-management timeline, expect roughly 45 to 60 days from your spouse's answer to the Scheduling Conference, another 90 to 120 days to a Settlement/Pre-Trial Conference, and 60 to 90 days more to a Merits Hearing if the case doesn't settle. Maryland courts generally aim to close cases within one to two years of filing, though many resolve faster.