Experienced Lawyers Helping You Get A Fresh Start After Divorce In Annapolis

Last updated on December 17, 2025

People pin all their hopes on marriage working out. When a marriage comes apart, and a couple seeks divorce, the financial and family consequences can leave both sides in shock. At Reinstein, Glackin & Herriott, LLC, our goal is to help our clients get the best possible outcome and a fresh start.

Our Annapolis divorce lawyers enjoy the respect of our peers and prestigious distinctions from numerous rating and ranking organizations, however, what matters most to us is that you are making a successful transition in your life.

How Do You Get A Divorce In Maryland?

In Maryland, the divorce process centers on an Absolute Divorce – the only type granted since Oct. 1, 2023. While this streamlines the legal framework, going through a divorce still requires careful attention from both spouses.

To begin the process, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for a minimum of six months (or one year if the grounds occurred outside Maryland). Once you meet this residency requirement, there are typically four general steps, which are covered below.

Initiating Your Divorce

If you are starting the divorce, you must file a Complaint for Absolute Divorce in the Circuit Court. If you are representing yourself, use form CC-DR-020 to open a case and file it in the county where you or your spouse lives. This formal document requests the court to dissolve your marriage. In this document, you must state your legal grounds for divorce and confirm your residency. It should also outline your requests for child custody, child support, alimony and the division of marital property and debts.

Along with submitting the documents, you must pay a filing fee. However, if you cannot afford it, you may ask the court to waive the fee. To do so, simply submit completed fee waiver forms with your complaint.

Make enough copies of all your court documents for your spouse, and keep at least one copy for yourself. Ask the court clerk to date-stamp your copies.

Serving The Divorce Papers

After you file the complaint, you must legally ‘serve’ your spouse with the papers. This means you deliver a copy of the complaint and a summons to them. This step officially notifies your spouse of the divorce and gives them a chance to respond.

You can serve papers through personal delivery by a sheriff, private process server or certified mail. Alternatively, your spouse can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Service, confirming receipt without formal delivery. While you’re responsible for making sure the documents reach your spouse, you can’t give copies to your spouse yourself. Someone else who is over the age of 18 years must do it on your behalf. You also have the responsibility to send proof to the court that your spouse received the documents.

The typical timeframe for a response is 30 days if it’s served in Maryland, 60 days if it’s out-of-state but in the U.S., and 90 days if it’s served internationally. If your spouse does not respond within the legal period, you may seek a default judgment. The court could then grant the divorce and your requested support even without your spouse’s direct involvement. The court must strictly approve this, and you need to provide supporting evidence.

Responding To The Complaint

If you receive a Complaint for Absolute Divorce, you must respond promptly. You typically have a limited time to file an Answer to the Complaint using form CC-DR-050. You can also file a counterclaim using form CC-DR-020 if you have your own claims or requests.

Your answer must address each statement in the complaint. You must either admit it, deny it or state you lack enough information. This is your chance to present your side. You can raise defenses and make your own requests for support, custody, alimony and property division. If you do not file a timely response, the court can enter a default judgment against you. This could significantly impact your rights and the divorce outcome.

As the one on the receiving end, you are responsible for informing your spouse that you have filed your response. Mail them copies of all the documents you file with the court. You must also inform the court that you sent these copies to your spouse. You can do this by completing the Certificate of Service section at the end of the answer or counterclaim form.

Resolution Pathways And Court Process

After the initial filings, the court often encourages alternative dispute resolution. For instance, the court may require mediation. This helps both spouses work through disagreements about child custody, child support, spousal support and division of assets and debts. Mediation aims to find solutions that both parties agree on, reduce conflict and lower legal costs. If you reach a full agreement, your divorce can proceed as an uncontested matter. However, if mediation or other negotiations fail, a judge will hold a hearing or trial to resolve all contested issues.

The divorce process length varies greatly. An uncontested divorce – where you both agree on all terms – can finalize in a few months. Complex cases with significant disputes might take over a year.

Our attorneys assist both filing and responding spouses with accurate paperwork, evidence collection and court navigation, ensuring compliance with Maryland laws. We explain legal terms clearly, helping you make informed decisions to protect your rights and secure a fair outcome.

What Are The Grounds For Divorce In Maryland?

Maryland now recognizes only no-fault grounds for divorce, having eliminated fault-based grounds as of Oct. 1, 2023. The state has moved to a fully no-fault system, streamlining the process and focusing on mutual consent, separation or irreconcilable differences.

Maryland’s no-fault divorce grounds include:

• Mutual consent: Available to all couples, including those with minor children, if a written settlement agreement resolves all issues
• Six-month separation: Living separate and apart for at least six months without interruption.
• Irreconcilable differences: Demonstrating that the marriage has broken down beyond repair, regardless of the duration of separation, and even if the parties are still residing together.

Selecting appropriate grounds impacts timelines and financial outcomes. Our attorneys evaluate your case, recommend strategic grounds, gather necessary evidence and advocate for a favorable resolution.

Although adultery, desertion, physical abuse and other fault grounds for divorce are no longer recognized under Maryland law, evidence related to these prior fault grounds can be important factors for the court to consider in addressing issues such as custody of children, spousal support and a division of marital property. Our attorneys can assist you in determining how best to use this evidence to achieve the best outcome in your case.

Limited Divorce Vs. Absolute Divorce

Maryland eliminated limited divorce as an option effective October 1, 2023. Previously, limited divorce functioned as a legal separation that allowed couples to live apart while remaining legally married. This arrangement addressed issues like child custody, child support and spousal support without fully ending the marriage. Some couples used it as a stepping stone toward divorce or for religious reasons that discouraged full marital dissolution.

Today, only absolute divorce is available in Maryland. An absolute divorce completely and permanently dissolves the marriage, allowing both parties to remarry if they choose. This change simplified Maryland’s divorce framework by removing the intermediate step and focusing solely on final marital dissolution. The court addresses all matters including property division, alimony, child custody and support through the absolute divorce process. While the elimination of limited divorce may affect couples who previously would have chosen legal separation, Maryland’s current system encourages resolving differences through mediation or proceeding directly to ending the marriage.

Filing For Divorce Vs. Responding To A Spouse Who Has Filed For Divorce

Neither position holds an inherent advantage in Maryland divorce proceedings. Being the filing spouse does not automatically improve your chances of a favorable outcome, nor does being the responding spouse put you at a disadvantage. Maryland courts evaluate divorce cases based on the merits and evidence presented, not on who initiated the process.

However, the first steps differ significantly depending on your role. If you are filing for divorce, you must prepare and submit a Complaint for Absolute Divorce to the Circuit Court, pay the filing fee and arrange for your spouse to be served with the divorce papers.

If you are responding to a divorce complaint, you must file an Answer to the Complaint within the designated time frame based on where you were served. You can admit, deny or state insufficient knowledge about each allegation. You may also file a counterclaim if you have requests regarding property division, custody or support. Failing to respond within the allowed period can result in a default judgment that grants your spouse their requests without your input.

Looking To Make A Fresh Start?

We can help. Our experienced divorce lawyers are ready to guide you. Reach out to Reinstein, Glackin & Herriott, LLC to speak to an Annapolis divorce lawyer. Call our local office number at 301-850-7349 or send us a message through our online form.