Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Maryland
A Maryland divorce counts as uncontested when both spouses sign a full written settlement agreement covering alimony, property, and any custody or support terms. Since a major reform in October 2023, that agreement itself works as a legal ground for divorce. It is called mutual consent, and it requires no minimum separation period at all. Maryland dropped every fault-based ground that year and repealed limited divorce entirely. Two of the state's three remaining grounds, mutual consent and irreconcilable differences, need no waiting period. Only the third ground, a six-month separation, requires time apart before you can file.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Maryland law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Maryland paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The mutual consent ground
Both spouses sign a full written settlement agreement covering alimony, marital property, and any custody, support, or decision-making terms. Neither party files anything to set the agreement aside. If children are involved, the court must find that the child-related terms serve their best interests.
This works no matter how long the couple was married or if they have children. It functions as Maryland's uncontested track, even though the law does not give it a separate simplified-divorce label. A completed child support worksheet is also required when it applies.
Document checklist
Start with CC-DR-020, Complaint for Absolute Divorce. Use the companion instructions form, CC-DR-IN-020, to fill it out. Add the signed settlement agreement that supports the mutual consent ground.
Cases involving custody of a minor child also need a Parenting Plan, forms CC-DR-109 and CC-DR-110. Prepare these using the Maryland Parenting Plan Tool. A spouse who cannot afford court costs can file CC-DC-089, Request for Waiver of Costs. This pauses docketing until a judge rules on it.
Grounds and no waiting period for two of them
Maryland recognizes three grounds under Family Law section 7-103, and all of them are effectively no-fault. Mutual consent and irreconcilable differences carry no minimum separation period. A couple can file immediately once they qualify.
The third ground, six-month separation, requires the spouses to have lived apart continuously for that period before filing. Living under the same roof can still count, if the spouses are otherwise living separate lives. Couples who agree generally use mutual consent instead, since it avoids any wait.
Residency and where to file
If the grounds for divorce arose in Maryland, either spouse just needs to be a Maryland resident at the time of filing. There is no fixed length of residency required. If the grounds arose outside Maryland, at least one spouse must have lived in Maryland for six months right before filing.
Cases are filed in Maryland circuit court. Statewide electronic filing through MDEC is available, and it is mandatory for attorneys. It stays optional for self-represented divorce filers, so paper filing is still an option.
Sources: Md. Code, Family Law section 7-103, grounds for divorce, Md. Code, Family Law section 7-101, residency requirement, Maryland Judiciary, divorce legal help page, Maryland Judiciary, family law forms, CC-DC-089, Request for Waiver of Costs, Maryland Judiciary, MDEC electronic filing
Not independently confirmed
- The master statewide Circuit Court Fee Schedule PDF could not be directly loaded to confirm every filing fee line item; a county-level page (Somerset County) confirmed a self-represented filing fee, cross-checked against the statute requiring uniform statewide fees. Confirm the exact current fee with the filing circuit court.
- Whether any individual Maryland circuit court requires a mandatory parenting or co-parenting class, beyond the statewide Parenting Plan document requirement, was not checked county by county. Confirm with the filing circuit court.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Maryland: frequently asked questions
Can I get a Maryland divorce without a separation period?+
Yes, using the mutual consent ground. Both spouses sign a full written settlement agreement covering alimony, property, and any custody or support terms. The court then finds that any child-related terms serve the children's best interests. This ground, along with irreconcilable differences, carries no minimum separation period. Maryland's third ground, six-month separation, requires six months apart instead.
What grounds does Maryland use for divorce?+
Three, under Family Law section 7-103, following a major reform effective October 2023 that eliminated all fault-based grounds. They are mutual consent, irreconcilable differences, and six-month separation. Only the separation ground requires a waiting period before filing. Mutual consent and irreconcilable differences need no wait.
What is Maryland's residency requirement for divorce?+
If the grounds for divorce arose in Maryland, either spouse simply needs to be a Maryland resident when the case is filed. No fixed number of months is required. If the grounds arose outside Maryland, at least one spouse must have lived in Maryland for six months right before filing.
What forms do I need for an uncontested Maryland divorce?+
Start with CC-DR-020, Complaint for Absolute Divorce, and its companion instructions, CC-DR-IN-020. Add the signed settlement agreement that supports the mutual consent ground. If the case involves custody of a minor child, add a Parenting Plan, forms CC-DR-109 and CC-DR-110, prepared using the Maryland Parenting Plan Tool.
Can I get Maryland court costs waived?+
Yes, if you cannot afford them. File CC-DC-089, Request for Waiver of Costs, authorized under Maryland Rule 1-325. This form pauses the case's docketing until a judge rules on the waiver request. File it as early as possible in the process if you need it.
Do we need a parenting class if we have minor children in Maryland?+
Maryland has no confirmed statewide mandatory parenting class. It does require a Parenting Plan document in any custody case, including a divorce involving minor children, but that is a paperwork requirement, not a class you attend. Some individual circuit courts run their own local parent-education or mediation programs, so confirm with the filing county.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Maryland, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Maryland's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Maryland. Virdix does not prepare or file Maryland divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Maryland.
More Maryland divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Maryland, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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