For answers to questions or for a free initial consultation, call us at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016. We can help you.
Generally, Howard County and Montgomery County are among the more civil jurisdictions in Maryland to get a divorce. But, divorce is still divorce --- no matter where you are located. And, civility can be hard to come by in divorce actions.
Before filing for divorce, we recommend you educate yourself as much as possible about the process
in Maryland; put your children first (remember: they are not the ones getting a divorce); set goals and make plans, and keep the "big picture" in mind; get copies of all financial records as soon as possible; get good legal and financial advice; and, as an individual remember who you are during the divorce process.
Modern Howard County and Montgomery County, Maryland Divorce
Effective now in Maryland, there are three new laws that update (so to speak) Maryland divorce.
(1) The first new law reduces the time from one year to six months the required time needed for one of the divorcing parties to reside in the State of Maryland if the grounds (legal reasons) for the divorce occurred outside of Maryland.
(2) The second new law clarifies and simplifies the circumstances in which a couple can get a limited divorce. This law removes elements of nthe limited divorce ground that required voluntariness of the separation and the absence of any reasonable expectation of reconciliation. In sum, this law recognizes that if the parties no longer live together and one of them no longer wants to continue the marriage relationship, neither a court nor the State of Maryland should prevent the limited divorce process, which is --- of course --- limited in scope
(3) The third new law creates an entirely new ground (legal reason) for divorce in this state. The law essentially permits a couple who have worked out all of the terms of their divorce, and who have no children in common, to avoid waiting for up to a year before seeking permission from the court for a divorce. The new law also potentially allows this same couple, where finances are tight, to live in the same residence while in the process of a divorce. In some circumstances, this might allow marital assets needed post-divorce, for such things as housing costs, to be divided sooner than the normal one-year separation, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment