# Courts and Judicial Proceedings (GCJ)

## Title 3. Courts of General Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction/special Causes of Action

### Subtitle 8. Juvenile Causes -- Children in Need of Assistance

#### Section 3-810

(a)

  (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the Maryland Rules govern the format of a petition and of other pleadings and the procedures to be followed by the court and parties under this subtitle.

  (2) Each document that a local department serves on a parent under this subtitle shall include information about the website that the Department of Human Services maintains under Sec. 2-302 of the Human Services Article.

(b)

  (1) In any proceeding in which a child is alleged to be in need of assistance or in any voluntary placement hearing, the court may exclude the general public from a hearing and admit only those persons having a direct interest in the proceeding and their representatives.

  (2) The court shall exclude the general public from a hearing where the proceedings involve discussion of confidential information from the child abuse and neglect report and record, or any information obtained from the child welfare agency concerning a child or family who is receiving Title IV-B child welfare services or Title IV-E foster care or adoption assistance.

(c) The clerk of the court shall make a separate file for each case.

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Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)