Dundalk Divorce and Family Law Lawyer
What changed in Maryland divorce law, and what it means for the house, the pension and the debts.
Dundalk is one of Baltimore County’s largest and longest established communities, in the southeastern corner of the county. Many families here have owned the same home for decades and have work histories tied to long tenured employers, both of which matter a great deal in a divorce.
What Maryland divorce looks like now
The rules changed in October 2023 and a lot of what people have heard is out of date. Maryland now has only absolute divorce. Limited divorce was repealed. Fault grounds such as adultery and cruelty were removed as grounds. And Maryland has never had a legal separation case, so there is nothing to file to become legally separated.
The grounds now available include a six month separation, irreconcilable differences, and permanent legal incapacity to consent, with mutual consent available where the spouses have a complete signed settlement agreement. Importantly, spouses can now satisfy the six month separation while still living under the same roof if they are genuinely leading separate lives, which matters when running two households is not realistic. See grounds for divorce in Maryland.
The house and the pension
For long tenured Dundalk households these are usually the two largest assets, and the pension is the one most often overlooked. The portion of a pension or retirement account earned during the marriage is generally marital property even though only one spouse’s name is on it, and dividing it usually requires a separate court order directed to the plan administrator. An agreement that divides a pension in principle, without that order, has not actually divided it.
On the house, the options are typically sale and division of proceeds, a buyout by one spouse, or a deferred sale. Where minor children live in the home, use and possession may be addressed separately from ownership. See property and debt division.
Debt
Debt taken on for family purposes during the marriage is generally treated as marital. One practical warning: an order or agreement assigning a joint debt to one spouse does not bind the lender. If your name is on the loan, the creditor can still come after you. Removing a name requires refinancing or a separate step that should be planned for in the agreement.
Custody and support
Custody is decided on the best interests of the child, and Maryland separates decision making authority from where the child lives. Child support follows the statewide income shares guidelines. See custody and parenting plans and child support.
Where your case goes
Dundalk cases are filed at the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. Many conferences are now held by video, which cuts down on travel. For the court’s case tracks and contact numbers, see our Baltimore County page.
Related pages
Official resources
- Baltimore County Circuit Court, family law services
- Maryland Courts, divorce
- Maryland Parenting Plan Tool
Talk with a Towson family law attorney
Every divorce and custody matter turns on its own facts. The Law Office of Thomas K. Mallon, LLC offers a free consultation so you can get straight answers about your situation before you decide what to do next.
Call (410) 847-9075 or request a consultation online. The office is at 1107 Kenilworth Drive, Suite 305, Towson, MD 21204.
This page provides general information about Maryland law. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Maryland law changes, and how it applies depends on the facts of your case.