Albers & Associates understands that divorce can be a challenging process full of legal complexities that may overwhelm our clients. That’s why our highly experienced attorneys can work with you to get the best possible resolution for your family. When navigating through the divorce process, you may find yourself with numerous questions pertaining to your next steps. Whether your divorce is mutually agreed upon or full of contention, our professional legal team is here to assist you throughout your divorce in Maryland. We can answer a few frequently asked questions to provide you with peace of mind as you begin this next chapter of your life.
When Can I Seek a Divorce in Maryland?
There are common grounds to seek out a divorce in Maryland. These common grounds are typically based upon either one or both parties within a marriage seeking to legally terminate the marriage. If a client wishes to permanently divorce, they will look for an “absolute divorce.” An “absolute divorce” is the absolute, final decree ruled by the court that a couple is no longer married. To obtain an absolute divorce within Maryland, one or more of the following common grounds must be met.
- Adultery, when one married person voluntarily has sex with a person other than their husband or wife.
- Actual or constructive desertion, the conduct of a spouse that makes the marriage a threat to one’s health, comfort, or self-respect.
- Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor offense in any state that received a jail sentence of over 3 years and has currently served 12 months upon filing.
- Cruelty of treatment or excessively vicious conduct, which endangers one spouse and/or a dependent.
- Insanity, a spouse has been confined to a mental institution for at least 3 years upon filing and two physicians can attest to their insanity being incurable.
- A separation period that lasts for 12 months without intercourse or cohabitation.
Can I Seek a Limited Divorce if I Change My Mind?
One of the trickiest components of a divorce is often not deciding upon the division of marital assets and custody agreements, but rather if two parties genuinely wish to divorce during what might be a rough patch in their marriage. For some marital unions, a limited divorce can be a legal decree of separation that doesn’t pertain to the division of assets and can also determine alimony obligations. A limited divorce does not legally terminate the marriage like an absolute divorce and can give the couple time to come to a final resolution. To seek out a limited divorce, one or more of the following grounds must be met:
- Cruelty of treatment or excessively vicious conduct, which endangers one spouse and/or a dependent.
- Actual or constructive desertion, the conduct of a spouse that makes the marriage a threat to one’s health, comfort, or self-respect.
- A separation period that lasts for 12 months without intercourse or cohabitation.
Do I Need Evidence to Determine a Limited or Absolute Divorce in Maryland?
Albers & Associates highly recommends providing evidence and appropriate documentation to support your limited or absolute divorce filings in Maryland. Our legal team can use this documentation to corroborate your claims on your behalf. We highly recommend providing our legal team with information pulled from emails, text messages, social media communications, photographs, videos, in-home security cameras, and more.
Albers & Associates is Your Experienced Family Law Attorney for Divorce in Baltimore, Maryland
Albers & Associates is your highly experienced family law attorney for divorce in Maryland. We can diligently advocate on your behalf to get the most desirable resolution for your family. Our legal team can help you navigate this difficult period for your family so that you can get your life moving forward. Contact us today for a consultation. You can also give us a call at our downtown Baltimore, MD office (410) 505-0671 or Dundalk, MD office (410) 505-7831.