Online Divorce in Maryland | Get Cheap MD Divorce Papers (24/7)

How to get an online divorce

Step1

Check If You Qualify

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Step2

Complete Questionnaire

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Step3

Review Completed Forms

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File for Divorce

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Online Divorce in Maryland

divorce in Maryland

For those seeking an inexpensive divorce in the state of Maryland, online divorce is an easy, affordable, and fast solution to prepare legal forms. Online divorce may be appropriate for couples who have an uncontested case.

The step-by-step process of preparing divorce documents at Onlinedivorce.com makes it easy for you. We help organize all of the necessary divorce forms and provide detailed written instructions on filing your divorce in Maryland.

Our divorce documents preparation service can be a perfect solution for those who want to have their divorce papers completed quickly and without stress. Even though Maryland has unique divorce forms and filing requirements, our online system provides the exact forms necessary along with instructions on how to file. We have helped thousands of people prepare their divorce documents for filing.

If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce and want an amicable dissolution to your marriage, why should the process get drawn out, and why should you spend money on lawyers? Online divorce is often cheaper, quicker, and easier.

Online divorce can be a perfect option if you want to save money or hope to have your divorce finalized quickly to get on with your life. Preparing documents for divorce online in Maryland is fast becoming very popular because you can complete the documents in the comfort of your home.

Even if you think your case is too complex because you have children, own your own home, or have other assets, you may still be able to prepare your documents online. Just start with our simple questionnaire, and we’ll provide you instructions for each step of the way.

The process at OnlineDivorce.com is 100% secure. We protect your information, and nothing is filed until you submit the divorce papers to the courthouse yourself. Filing for divorce in Maryland with the Onlinedivorce.com system can be a simple solution to a difficult situation.

Filing:

When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we help you fill out your divorce paperwork using a simple online questionnaire. You can fill it out alone or with the assistance of your spouse. Then, after getting the other spouse’s signature, the divorce forms may be filed at the local court.

In Maryland, you will typically file with the courthouse in the county in which you currently reside. If a petitioner is not currently a resident but a defendant is, divorce is typically filed in the county where the defendant resides.

The actual filing process is explained in our detailed court-filing instructions that we provide, along with your completed divorce forms. You can also obtain assistance from your local courthouse by calling or stopping by.

After the initial filing, you may need to follow up if there are any issues with your documents. When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we allow you to make minor adjustments to your forms as requested by the court at no additional charge. Our goal is to help you obtain your divorce with as little hassle and stress as possible using our online divorce documents preparation service.

Residency:

Every state has specific requirements where divorcing couples must establish residency before filing for divorce. Maryland is no exception.

Maryland has a six-month residency requirement. This means that at least one of the spouses must have lived in the state for at least six months.

There are many ways to prove that residency has been established. The easiest way is if one or both spouses have a valid and current Maryland driver’s license, ID card, or voter’s registration card issued at least six months before filing for divorce.

If this is not the case, it may be possible to establish residency by having someone who knows you or your spouse testify that you have lived in the state for at least six months. Additionally, it may be possible to use an Affidavit of Corroborating Witness form, and it should serve as proof you’ve lived in the state for a minimum of six months.

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Valid grounds to get divorce in Maryland

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Grounds for an online divorce using OnlineDivorce.com are the same as they would be for any divorce within the State of Maryland. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the state must approve them.

 

Maryland recognizes both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce. No-fault grounds include living apart without cohabitation for at least 12 months and mutual agreement.

 

The State of Maryland also recognizes fault-based reasons for divorcing, including adultery, cruelty, excessively vicious conduct toward the complaining party or a minor child of the complaining party, insanity, willful desertion for one year, and conviction for a felony as fault grounds for a divorce.

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Custody of the child in Maryland

Custody of the child

If there are children involved in a divorce, the couple will need to determine how custody should be handled. This isn’t something that a couple has to do all on their own. There are regulations in place that can help the court determine the best possible custody situation for each case.

If the parents already have a plan in mind, they can present this to the court, and it will be given due consideration before any other agreement is made.

In Maryland, joint legal custody is preferred. It is not always awarded in a contested situation but can be agreed upon by the parties. The court will always consider the child’s best interests and an agreement made by the parties when determining joint and physical custody.

The number one consideration of every child custody case is the needs and comfort level of the children involved. If the children are of age and maturity to give their opinion, it will be duly considered.

Rules for child support in Maryland

Maryland has put state-mandated child support guidelines into place, which will apply in almost every case, barring extraordinary circumstances. With this, both parties’ gross incomes and certain child-related expenses are considered when calculating the child support obligation.

In most cases, child support payments continue until the child reaches eighteen years of age and can extend until the completion of secondary education. If these guidelines do not match well with the spouses involved in a particular case, the court may adjust the standard guidelines on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that the family home may be awarded as part of a child support agreement. It would be awarded to the parent who has custody of a child to allow the child or children to continue to live in the environment and community familiar to them.

If this is done, it is in no way punitive in nature. A grandparent may be financially responsible for the care of his or her grandchild if the parent is an unemancipated minor.

An official child support worksheet is available for review. [Annotated Code of Maryland; Family Law, Sections 8-206, 12-101, 12-201, 12-202, 12-203, and 12-204 and Maryland Rules; Rule 9-206 (Child Support Guidelines)].

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Rules for spousal support in Maryland

Rules for spousal support

Alimony is sometimes ordered to help a spouse continue to live in the means determined during the marriage. The couple may decide support before filing, or the court may specify in a contested case.

The court may award rehabilitative (short-term) or more permanent alimony to either of the spouses in either lump-sum payments or as monthly/yearly payments or both.

Either spouse may be awarded alimony based on the following factors:

  • The time that would be necessary to acquire sufficient education and training to enable the spouse to find appropriate employment and that spouse’s future earning capacity;
  • The standard of living which was established during the marriage;
  • The length of the marriage;
  • The ability of the supporting spouse to take care of his or herself while still offering support;
  • The financial resources of the spouse who seeks alimony, including marital property, apportioned to such spouse and such spouse’s ability to meet his or her needs independently;
  • The financial resources of both spouses, including their comparative earning abilities in the labor market;
  • The contribution of each spouse to the marriage, including services rendered in homemaking, childcare, education, and career-building of the other spouse;
  • The current age of the spouses;
  • The current physical and emotional conditions of the spouses;
  • Any agree­ment that already exists between the spouses concerning financial or service contributions by one spouse with the expectation of future reciprocation or compensation by the other;
  • The ability of the spouse who seeks alimony to become self-supporting;
  • The circumstances that lead to the breakdown of the marriage, whether or not it was fault-based; and
  • Any other factor the court deems just and equitable. [Annotated Code of Maryland; Family Law, Section 11-106]

More information is available regarding support of all types as you begin filing your divorce through OnlineDivorce.com. Please note that alimony payments can be ordered to be paid through a state depository in some cases.

Property division in Maryland

Property division

When a couple chooses to divorce in Maryland, they must distribute property fairly and agreeably. It can be one of the most challenging parts of going through the divorce process for many couples.

It may be possible for a couple to come up with a property distribution plan on their own without involving the court. In doing so, it can make for a more relaxed and less stressful uncontested divorce.

However, when there is some disagreement on how property is to be divided, the state has specific rules to make it easier.

Maryland is an “equitable distribution” state. Each spouse retains his or her indi­vidual property, including gifts, inheritances, property acquired before marriage, and any increase in such property.

The marital property is divided between the spouses after considering the following factors:

  • The contribution of both spouses to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of both spouses as homemaker;
  • the duration of the marriage;
  • the age of each party;
  • the physical and mental condition of each party;
  • The value of both spouse's property; and
  • Any other factor necessary to do equity and justice between the spouses. [Annotated Code of Maryland; Family Law, Sections 8-202, 8-203, and 8-205]

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Contested Divorce

Hourly Billing - Driving the Average Cost of Divorce to $15,000+

Contested divorces can be lengthy and costly due to spouses being unable to agree on one or more key issues, including child custody, property division, or spousal support.

  • Offline and inconvenient process in which both parties often hire attorneys to represent their interests.
  • The adversarial nature of a contested divorce can lead to heightened emotional stress and strain for both spouses and their families.
  • Absent a settlement, the final divorce judgment and terms are determined by the court, which may not fully align with the preferences of either spouse.
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The premier uncontested divorce tool

Fast, affordable, and simple process using our fully-guided divorce questionnaire and filing service.

  • Online process to be completed at your own pace, can get documents as quickly as same day.
  • Receive ready-to-file forms specific to your jurisdiction and situation.
  • Easy online access for both spouses, free revisions for 30 days, and the ability to save your data longer term. Experienced customer support via chat and phone.
  • Ancillary services to ensure optimal outcomes, including name changes, co-parenting support, and getting started with your life after divorce.
  • Detailed instructions on how to file with the court or the option to purchase our filing service.

Mediation support in Maryland

If there is a dispute involving custody or child support, mediation may be ordered. The parties may also choose to mediate any other contested issue to avoid having the case be tried as a contested divorce.

For those seeking to prepare their divorce papers using OnlineDivorce.com, utilizing divorce mediation can be a great tool to smooth out disagreements and prevent the case from going to court. It can be the simplest way to assure a fast, easy and affordable online divorce.

Divorce forms in Maryland

Maryland forms produced by OnlineDivorce.com are court-approved divorce forms. We have automated the process of filling them out to simplify matters and avoid any difficulties that may occur with filling out paperwork alone. By utilizing OnlineDivorce.com, you can streamline the process of preparing divorce documents and help both parties move forward with their lives.

Divorce in Maryland online

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Filing fees for divorce in Maryland

When you file your divorce papers, the court will charge filing fees that may vary by county. These costs are in addition to the cost of using OnlineDivorce.com. Please check with your local courthouse to determine the exact amount.

How long will it take?

Using the OnlineDivorce.com service usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours or more, depending on the complexity of your case. Start by filling out the questionnaire. You can do it in one sitting or save your progress and complete it at a later date. Whatever is most convenient for you.

Once you’ve received the completed documents, you will need to file them and get your spouse’s signature. More information regarding the finalization of the divorce case is provided once the paperwork has been completed and submitted to the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really file for divorce in Maryland without a lawyer?

The answer is Yes. In Maryland, individuals have the right to represent themselves before the court, and divorce cases are no exception. Self-represented litigants must follow the same steps and rules as the spouses who hire attorneys to handle their divorce case.

Nevertheless, such a do-it-yourself divorce better suits uncontested cases. Since contested divorce is usually associated with disputed issues to resolve through litigation and higher risks, such cases are generally hard to handle without a qualified attorney or adequate legal background.

The spouses may evaluate their situation and their ability to represent themselves in divorce in Maryland by reading information on the Maryland Courts website or by getting free legal advice at their local Family Court Help Center or Maryland Court Help Center. Even though these specialists cannot act as full-service attorneys, they can help you to understand better the DIY divorce procedure in Maryland, its requirements, advantages, and pitfalls.

Spouses who have no significant property/child/custody/financial disputes wanting to arrange a divorce without a lawyer may take advantage of unbundled legal services, divorce mediation, counseling, online divorce, and other services to deal with particular issues.

How can I file for divorce in Maryland without a lawyer?

To apply for divorce in Maryland, the spouse initiating the action (the plaintiff) must fill out a Complaint for Absolute Divorce and other forms required in a particular case and file them with the Circuit Court. The plaintiff can use the self-help guide provided by the Maryland Courts or enjoy the help of OnlineDivorce.com to get the completed divorce forms in the shortest terms and with less hassle.

At this moment, the court charges the filing fee, and thus, the divorce procedure officially starts.

The next step is serving the second spouse (called the defendant) with copies of the Complaint and Summons. Maryland Rules of Civil Procedure allow accomplishing the service of process by any adult person who is not a party in the case, the county sheriff's service, or a private process server.

After being served with the papers, the defendant has to file a response with the Circuit Clerk. The Answer to Complaint allows the defendant to admit or deny the divorce petition's allegations.

In Maryland, in a no-fault uncontested divorce on the ground of mutual consent, a waiting period is not required, so the final court hearing date usually can be scheduled with no delays given that the response is filed. An uncontested divorce hearing is typically brief and quite a formal procedure, but both parties must attend it.

How much does it cost to get an uncontested divorce in Maryland?

Plenty of factors may affect the overall cost of divorce in Maryland, but the cost of any dissolution procedure starts with paying a court filing fee. All the other expenses are hard to predict, but contested divorces are typically much more expensive due to the attorneys' hourly rates.

For example, in an uncontested divorce, the spouses may hire a lawyer and pay about $1,500 per case or arrange a divorce completely independently, paying only the court costs. Besides, many alternative options are available for the spouses who are not contesting the case but still need assistance at particular stages of the divorce process.

How long do you have to live in Maryland to file for divorce?

To have the right to get divorced in Maryland, the spouses must meet the state's residency requirements. Foremost, they shall apply for divorce in the state and county where they currently live, not where they were married.

Along with it, under the Maryland Code, if the ground for divorce indicated in the divorce petition occurred outside of the state, either party must have lived in the state for at least one year before filing a Complaint for Divorce.

If the ground for divorce occurred within the state, the main requirement is that the plaintiff must currently reside in Maryland.

How long do you have to respond to divorce papers in Maryland?

Once the defendant is served with copies of the Complaint and Summons, they have thirty days to file a response if receiving the forms in Maryland or sixty days if the defendant is served out of state.

If the defendant lives outside the US, the given period may be prolonged up to ninety days.
In any case, the defendant should file the Answer to Complaint to confirm or contest what their spouse stated in the Complaint.

How do you get a free divorce in Maryland?

Whether contested or uncontested, each divorce implies paying filing fees to the court. Therefore, almost no divorce cases are free, even if the spouses arrange a DIY divorce and do not resort to paid services.

Only the plaintiffs unable to pay court fees due to indigency can receive certain exemptions. To request a filing fee waiver, the plaintiff may complete the Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs form and file it along with the initial divorce documents.

After evaluating the plaintiff's financial situation, the court may either order the court fees be paid at the end of the case (one can ask for a final fee waiver then) or oblige the second spouse to pay charges.

What papers do I need to file for a divorce in Maryland?

The most common divorce forms usually required in Maryland include the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, the Summons, Civil-Domestic Case Information Report, Financial Statement, Affidavit of Service, Answer to Complaint, Joint Statement of Parties Concerning Marital and Non-Marital Property, Joint Request to Schedule an Uncontested Divorce Hearing, Report of Absolute Divorce or Annulment of Marriage, and Child Support Guidelines Worksheet.

Here is how OnlineDivorce.com makes completing divorce papers easier:

  • We provide the full divorce packet required by the local court - clients do not need to drive to their local courthouse to get the blank forms or search for the right divorce forms online. In rare cases, local county forms can vary in color, paper material, size, or bar code, so they may need to be obtained directly from the county clerk's office.
  • We complete the necessary forms for clients based on their answers given in a simple guided online interview - clients do not need to understand family law or read through complicated instructions to figure out how to fill out the forms themselves.
  • We give detailed, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce with the court - so the client knows exactly what to do to get his/her divorce finalized.
  • We provide unlimited technical support - if a client needs assistance through the online process, he/she can always reach out to us via phone, email, or live chat, and we'll do our best to help.
  • We save our clients time and money - if divorcing spouses agree regarding the terms of their divorce, they typically don’t have to pay thousands to a lawyer to handle their divorce forms and don't need to spend hours trying to do it all by themselves.