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Orphans Court asks for restored administrative and ADR staffing as caseloads rise
Summary
Judges from Prince George’s County Orphans Court requested funding for an administrative assistant/ADR coordinator and noted long‑standing vacancies including a law clerk position. Officials said the court’s caseload is high and that the alternative dispute resolution program helps resolve probate matters without costly litigation.
Judges from the Prince George’s County Orphans Court urged the county’s Health, Human Services and Public Safety Committee to restore funding for an administrative assistant who also serves as the court’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) coordinator, saying the court’s small staff is stretched thin amid a growing caseload.
Chief Judge Wendy Cartwright and colleagues described a court that handles probate and guardianship matters and faces the highest probate workload in Maryland. Budget staff told the committee the Orphans Court’s proposed general-fund budget for fiscal year 2026 is $610,500, a 3.4% decrease from the prior year, with operating expenditures increasing due to higher technology and supply allocations but overall a slight net reduction.
Why it matters: Judges said the court’s work involves administering estates and protecting children's assets, often for family members…
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