In 2015, the Maryland General Assembly modified one of the basic elements of proof necessary to obtain an absolute (or final) divorce in Maryland. The amount of time one of the parties must reside in Maryland before being eligible to petition a Maryland court for an absolute divorce has been reduced from one year to six months. This new residency requirement becomes effective on October 1st.
This legislative change was brought to the attention of the General Assembly by military attorneys who work primarily at Ft. Meade and is intended to assist service members. People in the military are often transferred during the course of their duty and have difficulty meeting the one year standard. This change in the Code to require only a six month residency may accelerate the divorce process for newcomers to Maryland. Of course, this change is available to all persons who file for divorce in Maryland.