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Divorce prep · Maryland
Divorce residency rules and where to file in Maryland
If you and your spouse live separate lives for at least six months, you can file on the ground of a 6-month separation. The separation must be without interruption for at least six months before the complaint for absolute divorce is filed.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- If you and your spouse live separate lives for at least six months, you can file on the ground of a 6-month separation. Maryland Judiciary. Checked November 2, 2026
- The separation must be without interruption for at least six months before the complaint for absolute divorce is filed. Maryland Judiciary. Checked November 2, 2026
- If the ground for divorce happened outside Maryland, one spouse must have been a Maryland resident for at least six months when filing. Maryland Judiciary. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Bank, retirement and debt statements
- Pay stubs and tax returns
- Household bills and expenses
- Home, car and property papers
- Agreements and court papers you have
- Messages sent to you
- Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Maryland
- How child support works in Maryland
- Child custody and parenting plans in Maryland
- How to get a copy of your divorce record in Maryland
- Protective orders for domestic violence in Maryland
- Divorce document checklist: the full guide
- Divorce residency rules and where to file: all states
Neighbouring states
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in Delaware
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in Virginia
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in West Virginia
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in District of Columbia
Questions
Where do these Maryland facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Maryland Judiciary. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Maryland or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for divorce prep?
A good start: Bank, retirement and debt statements; Pay stubs and tax returns; Household bills and expenses; Home, car and property papers; Agreements and court papers you have; Messages sent to you; Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes. Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.