Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee
We CAn Help!
Absolute

Montgomery County Lawyer Helps You Through an Absolute Divorce

An absolute divorce formally ends your marriage

Ending a marriage is a difficult decision. When the time has come for you to consider absolute divorce, the Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee in Rockville, Maryland provides the support and experience you need to make smart decisions about the future for you and your children.

The differences between absolute divorce and limited divorce

Unlike limited divorce in Maryland, which functions as a legal separation, absolute divorce is a total and permanent dissolution of the marriage. In an absolute divorce, you resolve all pertinent issues, including:

  • Division of marital assets and debts
  • Custody of your child or children
  • Child support payments
  • Spousal support (alimony) payments

Grounds for absolute divorce in Maryland

An absolute divorce in Maryland permanently dissolves your marriage. Maryland courts grant absolute divorces on the following fault-based grounds:

  • Adultery — Your spouse had extramarital sexual relations.
  • Desertion — Your spouse abandoned you or forced you out of your joint residence by using physical force or threatening you or your child’s safety.
  • Cruelty of treatment — Your spouse intentionally inflicted mental abuse or emotional trauma on you or your child.
  • Excessively vicious conduct — Your spouse was physically violent or abusive toward you or your child.
  • Conviction of a crime — Your spouse was convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and sentenced to at least three years in prison, and served at least 12 months of the sentence.
  • Insanity — Licensed psychotherapists or physicians determine that your spouse is incurably insane. The spouse must have been confined to a hospital, mental institution or other facility for at least three years.

In addition to these fault-based grounds, a divorce attorney from the Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee can help you and your spouse achieve a no-fault absolute divorce after you have been legally separated, through a limited divorce, for at least 12 months, or when you and your spouse have voluntarily lived separately for at least two years without having filed for a limited divorce.

Call our Rockville divorce attorney today

If you have questions about your options for divorce, or if you’re ready to file for an absolute divorce in Maryland, call the Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee at 301-417-5351 or contact us online.