Court Fees Checklist for Maryland Custody Cases (what you may pay)

Opening most civil cases in Maryland circuit court costs $165. The clerk collects this when you file (or "docket") your case. Most family and custody filings fall into this general civil-action category, so plan on this amount upfront.

Dropping your case isn't free. If you file a voluntary dismissal, the circuit court clerk charges $15.

• ✓ Copies are charged at 50 cents per page.
• ✓ The 50-cents-per-page rate applies whether the clerk makes the copy or you make the copy as a customer.
• ✓ “True Test” copies are also included in the 50-cents-per-page charge.

Costs don't always stop once the court enters an order. Some post-judgment enforcement filings carry a $311 docketing fee. You'll typically hit this if you're trying to enforce what the court already ordered - through an enforcement motion or certain writs, for example.

That $311 fee covers specific enforcement-related filings. The circuit court fee schedule lists examples: a motion under Maryland Rule 2-648 to enforce a judgment (the kind that mandates or prohibits conduct), a request for writs of execution, garnishment, or possession, and a request for a charging order. If your filing is about enforcing an existing judgment rather than starting something new, expect this higher fee.

Cost Reduction Tips

• ✓ Keep an eye on per-page copy costs (50 cents per page adds up fast on long filings).
• ✓ If you’re allowed to bring your own printed set for your records, do that so you don’t pay the clerk to copy everything.
• ✓ Only request the specific copies you need, since True Test copies are also charged at 50 cents per page.