Maryland

Divorce Residency Requirements To Get Divorce In Maryland

When you file for divorce in Maryland, there is a six-month residency requirement if the grounds for divorce occurred outside the state. If the grounds for divorce occurred within the state, there is no minimum residency requirement.

Reasons For Divorce In Maryland

To legally end a marriage in Maryland, you must establish one of the following grounds for divorce:

6-Month Separation: Spouses must have lived separate and apart for 6 months without interruption, even if they live in the same residence.

Irreconcilable Differences: Significant unresolved issues or conflicts have led to the breakdown of the marriage, making it impractical for the spouses to continue living together.

Mutual Consent: Both spouses agree to divorce and sign a written settlement agreement resolving all issues related to alimony, property, and child care. The agreement must serve the best interests of any minor or dependent children.

These grounds provide clear pathways for couples seeking to dissolve their marriage in Maryland.

Custody Of The Children In Maryland

Joint legal custody is not always awarded in a contested situation, but it can be agreed upon by both parties. The court always considers the best interests of the child as well as an agreement adopted by the parents, when determining legal and physical custody. Working out an agreement mutually can help the divorce proceed through the courts as uncontested and make it eligible for a do-it-yourself divorce which can be more affordable, easy and fast.

Maryland Child Support Guidelines

The standard state child support guidelines in Maryland will exist in virtually every case, barring exceptional circumstances. Both parents’ gross income, as well as certain child related expenses, are taken into consideration when calculating child support figures. Child support continues to be paid for the child until the child reaches age 18, and may continue through a child’s secondary education.

Venue

Divorce in the state of Maryland should be filed in the county where the filing spouse resides, or where the defendant resides, is employed, or owns a place of business.

Divorce Mediation

The court in Maryland may order divorcing parties to mediate custody or visitation disputes, if it is determined that mediation would be beneficial. In addition, the parties may voluntarily choose to mediate their own disputed issues so that the divorce may proceed in court as an uncontested divorce rather than on a contested basis.

Filing Fees

The Maryland state court fees are in addition to those charged by Divorce.com. These filing costs vary from county to county. For more information about these charges, we provide an easy way to look up the filing fees for your area. This ensures that you have a clear picture of all expenses specific to your situation before moving forward.