Maryland's family-law rules changed under your feet — fault grounds are gone, the separation period is now six months, and the custody factors were only codified in October 2025. If you're staring at a separation, a custody fight, an alimony demand or an abusive partner, you don't have weeks to learn this. Call 1-844-690-0555 now — free, 24/7 — and an AI assistant trained on Maryland's Family Law Code and federal law will walk you through your exact situation in plain English. This is legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Maryland.
First, get clear on which track you're on, because each has a different clock. If you're in danger, a District Court Commissioner can issue an interim protective order after hours, and a final hearing is usually set within about 7 days of service — go now and don't wait. If you're divorcing, figure out your earliest ground: a signed mutual-consent agreement needs no separation at all, while the separation ground needs a clean, uninterrupted 6 months. If someone who isn't a family or household member is harassing you, you have only 30 days to file a peace order in the District Court. Before you say anything to your spouse, an insurer, or the court, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and let the assistant pin down your ground, your court, and your deadline.
Almost every 'how to divorce in Maryland' article online is now wrong. SB 36 (Oct 1, 2023) abolished every fault ground and 'limited divorce' and cut the separation period from 12 months to 6. Then, on October 1, 2025, HB 1191 codified 16 custody best-interest factors that for decades existed only in case law, and HB 275 reshaped the child-support guidelines with a multifamily adjustment. So the well-meaning advice from a relative, an old blog, or even a 2022 form packet can blow your timing, your grounds, or your custody evidence. Before you act on anything you read or were told, call 1-844-690-0555 — free, 24/7 — and get answers grounded in the law as it actually stands today. Legal information, not legal advice.
If you can't afford a private attorney, Maryland has real, free and low-cost help for family-law and domestic-violence matters. These organizations are independent of Legal Hotline; our call is the fastest way to understand your situation, but these are the people who can represent you.
How long do I have to be separated to divorce in Maryland?
Six months — and it has to be uninterrupted. Under FL § 7-103, the separation ground requires you to pursue separate lives for 6 continuous months before filing, though Maryland's rules let that count even under one roof if you can't afford two homes. Reconciling resets the clock. If you and your spouse can agree on everything, mutual consent needs no separation at all. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and we'll figure out your fastest ground.
Is Maryland a 50/50 state for dividing property?
No. Maryland is an equitable-distribution state, not community property, so there's no automatic 50/50 split. Under FL §§ 8-201 to 8-205 the court classifies what's marital, then issues a cash 'monetary award' to balance things rather than retitling assets — weighing factors like the length of the marriage and each spouse's contributions. Pre-marriage assets, gifts and inheritances usually stay separate. Call 1-844-690-0555 to understand how it could apply to you. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Can I still get a divorce in Maryland based on adultery or cruelty?
No — and this trips up almost everyone. SB 36, effective October 1, 2023, repealed every fault ground and the old 'limited divorce.' Today there are only three grounds under FL § 7-103: 6-month separation, irreconcilable differences, and mutual consent. Any article or form mentioning adultery, desertion or a 12-month wait is out of date. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to get the current rules straight before you file.
How do I get an emergency protective order in Maryland tonight?
If the court is closed, a District Court Commissioner can issue an interim protective order after hours. It's available for family or household members and intimate partners under FL §§ 4-501 to 4-516, there's no filing deadline, and a final-order hearing is usually held within about 7 days of service. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 first. Then call us at 1-844-690-0555, any hour, to understand the process and your options. We're not a law firm — this is legal information, not advice.
What's the difference between a peace order and a protective order in Maryland?
It comes down to your relationship. A protective order (FL Title 4) is for family, household members and intimate partners and has no filing deadline. A peace order (CJP §§ 3-1501 to 3-1510) is for everyone else — neighbors, a date you don't live with, a stranger — and must be filed in the District Court within 30 days of the act under CJP § 3-1503. Pick the wrong track or miss the 30 days and you can lose protection. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and we'll tell you which one fits.
How is child support calculated in Maryland?
Maryland uses the income-shares model under FL §§ 12-201 to 12-204, combining both parents' incomes against a statutory schedule that covers combined adjusted income up to $30,000/month (above that, the court uses its discretion). The guideline figure is presumed correct, and a judge needs written findings to deviate. As of October 1, 2025, HB 275 added a multifamily adjustment for parents supporting children in more than one household. For a plain-English walkthrough of your numbers, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7.
Who decides custody in Maryland, and what do they look at?
Contested custody goes to the Circuit Court, often through a Family Magistrate who makes recommendations to the judge. As of October 1, 2025, HB 1191 codified 16 best-interest factors into FL §§ 9-201/9-202 that the court must address — before that, judges used the Montgomery County v. Sanders (1978) case-law factors, and the new statute requires judges to explain their reasoning on the record. Because it's so new, putting evidence on every factor early matters. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to understand what the court will weigh. Legal information, not legal advice.
How long will I have to pay alimony in Maryland?
Usually for a fixed, limited term. Most Maryland alimony is rehabilitative under FL § 11-106 — enough time for a spouse to retrain and become self-supporting. Indefinite alimony is the exception, granted only under FL § 11-106(c) where a spouse can't reasonably support themselves due to age, illness or disability, or where the two living standards would be 'unconscionably disparate.' There's no fixed formula — it's judge discretion. Call 1-844-690-0555 to talk through the factors in your case.
What happens if my ex violates a Maryland protective order?
It's a crime. Under FL § 4-509, violating a protective order is a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail for a first offense, and up to $2,500 and/or a year for a repeat — and the respondent can also be held in contempt. If a violation just happened and you're in danger, call 911. Then call us at 1-844-690-0555, any hour, to understand your next steps. We give legal information, not legal advice.
Do I have to live in Maryland to file for divorce here?
It depends on where your grounds for divorce arose. Under FL § 7-101, if the grounds happened in Maryland, the filer only needs to currently reside here. But if the grounds arose out of state, one spouse must have lived in Maryland for at least 6 months before filing. Getting residency wrong can get a case dismissed. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and we'll confirm whether and where you can file. This call creates no attorney-client relationship.
Can the AI assistant help with a green card or deportation issue tied to my Maryland divorce?
It can explain the framing, but immigration is federal — not Maryland — law. Marriage-based green cards run through USCIS, and removal cases go through the immigration courts (EOIR), so a Maryland divorce or protective order doesn't decide your status, though it can affect a pending petition or a VAWA self-petition. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and the assistant will help you see how your family case and your immigration situation interact and where each one is actually decided. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Are you a Maryland-licensed family-law attorney handling divorce, custody, support, alimony or protective orders? We connect ready-to-act Marylanders — from Baltimore and Columbia to Silver Spring, Rockville, Frederick and Annapolis — with vetted local counsel after our free intake call. If you'd like to receive matched, consultation-ready referrals in your county, get in touch about joining the network. (This is for attorneys only; if you need help with your own family matter, please call 1-844-690-0555.)
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Divorce grounds, separation clocks, the monetary award, the new custody factors, alimony, peace and protective orders — Maryland's family law is complicated, recently rewritten, and unforgiving of missed deadlines. You don't have to face it cold or alone. Call 1-844-690-0555 right now — free, 24/7, no income test, no web form — and an AI assistant trained on Maryland and federal law will help you understand exactly where you stand and what to do next. If you want a lawyer, we'll help you book a paid consultation with a Maryland-licensed attorney. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender; we give legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.