Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Re: Motion to Withdraw Appearance DENIED

This is the rule in the MD court system which governs the ability of an attorney to withdraw his or her appearance on behalf of a client in a court proceeding. If the client has not hired a new lawyer and the attorney or record wishes to withdraw, he must get court permission, and he does so by filing a motion, a copy of which is sent to the client. He first must inform the client of his rights regarding the hiring of a new attorney or representing himself. The judge has the ultimate discretion to decide whether to strike the attorney's appearance. Unless this happens right before a scheduled trial and the withdrawal would prejudice the client's ability to assert his rights in court, the motion would usually be granted.