The state of Maryland requires divorce petitioners to fulfill prerequisites for these proceedings. This indicates that either the petitioner or defendant have established residency in Maryland for no less than one year. Under Divorce Law in Bel Air MD, the divorce petition must be delivered by an officer of the court.
Achieving an Uncontested Divorce
To achieve an uncontested divorce, the couple must comply with the requirements for filing. In the state of Maryland, the couple must live apart for one year without cohabitation or any sexual relations. They could also file for divorce if they have been separated legally for at least a two-year period.
In an uncontested divorce, both parties must agree to the terms of the divorce. They must accept the divorce grounds and the divorce agreement. In these instances, they have reviewed and made decisions about child custody and property division.
What are the Fault Based Grounds for Divorce in Maryland?
* Adultery:
* If adultery is the grounds, the petitioner must provide evidence of infidelity. This includes phone records, instant messages, emails, or video surveillance. Equally, if the defendant doesn’t contest the divorce summons and testifies that he or she is guilty, the divorce is granted under these grounds.
* One-year desertion:
* The petitioner must prove that either their spouse left them without cause, refuses to return to the marriage, or they are unaware of their whereabouts. The one-year separation is vital to these grounds. When the whereabouts are unknown, the petitioner must use service by publication to try to notify their spouse of the divorce.
* Insanity or imprisonment:
* For insanity based grounds, the defendant must be in an institution for at least two years. For imprisonment, their spouse must be sentenced to prison for no less than two years.
* Vicious conduct:
* Domestic violence, inhumane treatment, or other forms of abuse are covered under these grounds.
Petitioners who wish to file for a divorce in Maryland must follow guidelines properly. They must fulfill the residency and separation requirements before filing the motion.
