BASIC MARYLAND DIVORCE A to Z : " BEST 10" DIVORCE ATTORNEY - HOWARD COUNTY

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Divorce can be traumatic, no matter who you are. It can be particularly stressful for children. However, divorce is frequently necessary for people to move forward with their lives in a more positive manner. In my view, from over 30 years of successful representation of parties in divorce actions in Maryland and other states, the basic end-goal of divorce is "survival", not necessarily "winning." In surviving a divorce you win.

Divorce in Maryland can be "contested", which requires adversarial proof, or they can be "uncontested", which are usually based upon a mutual and voluntary separation of at least one year.

Grounds for divorce in Maryland can include at least one year or at least two years' separation (living separate and apart without interruption); adultery; abandonment or desertion; conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor (requiring incarceration for one year under a sentence of three or more years); insanity; cruelty; excessively vicious conduct; etc.

Defenses against divorce in Maryland can include, in some instances, insanity of the accused violator, condonation and recrimination ( solely as mitigating factors to be decided by a judge).

Legal separation in Maryland can come in the form of a "limited divorce"; provided, of course. grounds are established, including: cruelty of treatment, excessively vicious conduct, desertion and voluntary separation.

Annulments in Maryland are granted by the court only in certain rare cases. The legal effect is to void a marriage from the very beginning --- as if the parties had never married.

In Maryland, prior to filing your petition or complaint for divorce, you must have resided in the state for at least one year. However - -- emergency, child custody or other matters may be filed in Maryland without regard to this one-year requirement.

[ Charles Jerome Ware, LLC is a premier, Maryland-based, national divorce and family law firm. For an initial courtesy consultation, contact us at (410) 720-6129.]