Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Urgent! Need to know Discovery Limitations

I have a joint custody case coming up very soon and I am handling this Pro Se because I can not afford a lawyer. I have been advised by the court to have my discovery requests submitted to the other party within 30 days prior to our Trial (we are past mediations and hearings before Masters at this point). There are a lot of things I would like proof of from the other party such as financial status, listing and documentation of personal and real assets, proof of employment, proof of healthcare coverage (as ordered by the court for the child of issue), proper INS documents (the other party is not a US citizen) for the opposing party and all other adults in his household, etc. But I don't know how much info I can legally request. What are the standard limitations of discovery? Can I request his INS file or documentation, for example? Do I need to first file a Release of Privacy for this info? I don't need the entire law book on this just the general rule of thumb, so to speak. Please help!


Asked on 2/27/01, 1:02 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
John A. Giffen Law Offices of John A. Giffen

Re: Urgent! Need to know Discovery Limitations

You need to get the preprinted forms for Interrogatories (family Law) and

Request to produce documents or subpeona dueces tecum for the records. I

think you can get them from the court. You might be able to get them off

the internet. The Interrogatories are easy just check the box. You may

have to make your own form for Request to Produce. see if you can find a

friendly family law attorney in your area or a friend that went through a

similar divorce and they may have copies of these forms that they used that

you can copy. You might also try calling a local law school and see if they

have help for pro se family law litigants. Many do for free.

Good luck

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Answered on 4/24/01, 2:26 pm
Lyle Johnson Bedi and Johnson Attorneys at Law

Re: Urgent! Need to know Discovery Limitations

Check with the family court where your case is being heard. Many family courts have a clinic to assist individuals in your position. Contact the clerk of the family court. The clerk or one of the assistant clerks should be able to give all of the necessary information regarding the family court clinic and how to get an appointment.

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Answered on 5/02/01, 9:38 pm


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