Since October 1, 2023, adultery and other fault claims can't be used to get a divorce in Maryland. The separation period was also cut in half, to six months, and the old "limited" decree some couples relied on as a legal separation no longer exists. Procedurally, a spouse still works through the
Do You Qualify for an Immediate Divorce in Maryland?
A marriage in Maryland does not require a year of living apart before the divorce can be filed. Since October 2023, state law recognizes three paths to an absolute divorce, and two of them carry no waiting period at all. Knowing how to get a divorce in Maryland now starts with picking the right
How Mediation Compares to Litigation in a Maryland Divorce
Not every divorce needs a courtroom battle. Maryland couples ending a marriage often assume litigation is the only path forward. Still, alternative dispute resolution offers a different way to resolve the same issues (such as property division, custody, and support) without a trial. A Maryland
How Child Custody Attorneys in Maryland Address a Child’s Preference in Court
When parents separate, one of the most sensitive questions is how much a child's own wishes matter, and a knowledgeable child custody attorney in Maryland helps families understand the answer. Maryland courts do listen to what children say about custody, but a child's preference is only one part of
How Courts Divide Debt Between Spouses in a Maryland Divorce
Divorce doesn't just split up furniture and bank accounts. It also splits up what a couple owes. Divorce lawyers in Maryland help spouses figure out who is responsible for what when credit cards, mortgages, and personal loans are still outstanding. Maryland courts use an equitable distribution
How Divorce Lawyers in Maryland Help Clients Through a Gray Divorce
Divorcing later in life brings a different set of financial questions than divorcing at 30. Divorce lawyers in Maryland who work with older clients regularly see cases built around decades of shared retirement savings and a Social Security benefit that hasn't been claimed yet, often alongside a
How to Prepare for Your First Divorce Mediation Session
In a court-ordered custody mediation, a Maryland judge's initial order can require as few as two sessions totaling four hours. Most people arrive with a rough sense of what they want and discover partway through the first hour that the window is smaller than they pictured, and that it does not
How Stock Options and Deferred Compensation Are Divided in a High Asset Divorce
For most executives, the paycheck is the smaller number. Stock options, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation carry more household wealth than salary does in a lot of households, and they are also the assets most likely to be undervalued when a marriage ends. Unvested awards, staggered
