lawyer

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE:

If the grounds for divorce occurred within the state, divorce may be filed in the county where either party resides. If the grounds for divorce occurred outside of the state, a person must be a resident for at least one year before they can file for a divorce in Maryland. [Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, § 7-101]

• Adultery.
• Desertion for at least one year before filing.
• Voluntary separation for at least one year before filing.
• Conviction of a felony, when the defendant has been sentenced to at least three years in a penal institution, and has served at least one year of the conviction.
• Living separate and apart for at least 2 years.
• Insanity.
• Cruelty or domestic violence against the petitioner or a minor child of the complaining partner.

[Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, § 7-103]

A husband and wife may reach an enforceable agreement relating to alimony, support, property rights, or personal rights. [Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, § 8-101]

MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS:

In a divorce involving children, the parents may be required to attend and educational seminar to educate parents about the effects of divorce on children. [Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, § 7-103.2]

PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION:

Maryland is an equitable distribution state, meaning that if the spouses can t reach an agreement, the court will divide the marital estate in an equitable, but not necessarily equal, fashion.

When determining the division of the marital estate, the court may take the following factors into consideration:

• The contributions of each party to the marital estate, both monetary and non-monetary.
• The value of all property of each party.
• The economic circumstances of each party.
• Misconduct that led to the estrangement of the parties.
• The duration of the marriage.
• The age and physical or mental condition of each of the parties.
• How the marital property was acquired.
• The amount of alimony awarded.
• Any other factors that the court deems relevant.

[Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, § 8-205]

ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT:

Alimony may be awarded to either spouse, with the court taking the following factors into consideration when determining a fair and equitable award:

• The ability of the party seeking alimony to be wholly or partly self-supporting.
• The time necessary to gain sufficient education or training to enable that party to find suitable employment.
• The duration and standard of living established during the marriage.
• The contributions, monetary and non-monetary, of each party to the well-being of the family.
• The circumstances that contributed to the estrangement of the parties.
• The age and physical or mental condition of each party.
• The ability of the party from whom alimony is sought to meet his or her needs while paying alimony .
• Any agreement between the parties.
• The financial needs and financial resources of each party.
• Whether the award would cause a spouse who is a resident of a related institution as defined in § 19-301 and from whom alimony is sought to become eligible for medical assistance earlier than would otherwise occur.

[Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, Sections 11-101 and 11-106]

SPOUSE S NAME:

Either spouse may request to take back a former or maiden name after divorce. [Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, § 7-105]

A court may award custody of a minor child to either parent or joint custody to both parents, with neither parent being resumed to have any right to custody that is superior to the right of the other parent. If the court has reasonable grounds to believe that a child has been abused or neglected by a parent, and if the court believes that the conduct will continue, the court shall deny custody or visitation rights to that party, except that the court may approve a supervised visitation arrangement that assures the safety and the physiological, psychological, and emotional well-being of the child. A child who is 16 years old or older may file a petition to change custody. [Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, Sections 5-203, 9-101 and 9-103]

CHILD SUPPORT LAWS OF MARYLAND :

The level of child support is based on the Income Shares model, meaning the both parent s incomes is combined to determine the amount of support. The basic child support obligation is then divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes. The child support guidelines may be deviated from due to the terms of any existing separation or property settlement agreements, or the presence in the household of either parent of other children to whom that parent owes a duty of support and the expenses for whom that parent is directly contributing. [Based on Maryland Code, Family Law, Sections 12-202 and 12-204]

share on facebook pin to pinterest