Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland
I currently reside in Seattle, WA and would like to divorce my wife of 9 years whom resides in Baltimore MD. I have not been in contact with her for about 7 yrs, but know through a friend that she is still in Baltimore. We have no children or property together and separated due to irreconcilable differences. I believe I have her current address. How can I proceed with divorcing her given that I reside out of state.
Thank you
John B
4 Answers from Attorneys
You may. It may be better to have an attorney approach her and see if she will sign a settlement agreement so that the divorce will be uncontested.
A separation agreement may be preferred and I am available to assist you. Matters other than your appearance can be accomplished without you needing to visit Maryland. Will you be able to appear for a court date in Maryland?
Yes, you may file for divorce in Maryland, even though you live in Washington State. You would file a Petition for Absolute Divorce. Since there are no children or property, it should not be a complicated matter.
Your smartest move is to file for divorce in Washington, where you have established residency. Most states allow such suits if at least one of the parties is a legal resident. Your question suggests that the only thing you are looking for is the divorce itself, in that there are no child, property or debt issues to be resolved. So why inconvenience yourself by bring the case in MD? Once the WA court issues the suit papers, you can have a MD process server deliver them to her or send them by certified mail. If you know how to get in touch with her, you can let her know your plans and seek her cooperation in accepting the court papers and even filing a response which will speed things along.