The Divorce Process in Maryland - How to File for Divorce

 Posted on January 12, 2026 in Divorce

Filing for divorce in Maryland involves more than just filling out a form and giving it to a Court Clerk. In addition to the emotional complexities involved with opening a divorce case, there are a number of other variables you must consider.

Hopefully by the time you are filing for divorce, you have consulted with a Maryland divorce lawyer. Regardless, an experienced attorney can help you through the divorce filing process.

Divorce cases in Maryland are filed in the Circuit Court, which generally has exclusive jurisdiction over family law matters, not the District Court. You should consult with your attorney to determine which Circuit Court is appropriate for your filing.

Grounds for Divorce

If you want to file for divorce in Maryland, you must have a justification (or grounds) for your filing. Maryland eliminated "fault" grounds for divorce in 2023, and limited the permissible justification to three "no fault" grounds for divorce:

• Irreconcilable Differences. You and your spouse have issues that cannot be resolved, leading to a breakdown of your marriage, and which make continuation of your marriage impractical or impossible.

• 6-Month Separation. You and your spouse have lived separate and apart, without interruption, for at least six months before filing for divorce

• Mutual Consent. You and your spouse agree to a divorce and there are no contested issues for the Court to decide.

Residency Requirement

You can’t file for divorce unless you or your spouse (or both) are a current resident of the State of Maryland. How long you must be a resident depends on whether the grounds for divorce occurred in Maryland. If the grounds occurred in the State, then at least one of you must be a resident at the time you file for divorce. If the grounds occurred outside the State, then at least one of you must be a resident for six months immediately preceding the date you file for divorce.

Complaint for Divorce

If your specific situation meets the grounds for divorce and you or your spouse satisfy the residency requirement, then you can file a Complaint for Divorce in the appropriate Circuit Court in Maryland. Filing a Complaint for Divorce starts the Court process.

A Complaint for Divorce in Maryland will include information about you and your spouse, your marriage, your children, your property, your grounds for divorce, and the relief you are requesting from the Court.

There is a $165.00 filing fee for a divorce in Maryland, which must be paid to the Clerk of the Circuit Court where your case is filed. In certain circumstances, this divorce filing fee can be waived.

Domestic Case Information Report

Along with the Complaint for Divorce, you must file a Domestic Case Information Report (DCIR). The DCIR is a case coversheet that includes your name and contact information, your spouse’s name and contact information, your attorney’s name and contact information, and the type of case and issues to be resolved by the Court. The DCIR is available as Form CC-DCM-001 on the Maryland Courts website and is used by the Clerk to input your information into the Court’s filing system.

Financial Statement

If you are asking for either child support or alimony, you are also required to file a Financial Statement.

There are two types of Financial Statements in a Maryland divorce case. There is a Long Form Financial Statement, available as Form CC-DR-031 on the Maryland Courts website, which includes detailed information on your income and expenses, and assets and liabilities. There is also a Short Form Financial Statement, available as Form CC-DR-030 on the Maryland Courts website, which includes basic information on your income and specific child-related expenses.

Generally, if you are asking for alimony, or child support and alimony, then you must file a Long Form Financial Statement; and, if you are asking for only child support and not alimony, then you must file a Short Form Financial Statement.

The Court will not allow you to file a Financial Statement without simultaneously filing a Notice of Restricted Information (NRI), available as form MDJ-008 on the Maryland Courts website. The NRI seals the Financial Statement, making it available to view only by you, your spouse, and your attorney(s).

Consult With a Columbia, MD Divorce Attorney

If you haven’t already, you really should consult with an experienced Maryland divorce attorney before filing for divorce. While you can legally represent yourself in a divorce case, and there are more forms and information on the Maryland Courts website, hiring a divorce lawyer is the best way to make sure that your rights are protected.

An attorney will prepare all the necessary forms for your Complaint for Divorce and will file them properly in and with the correct Court. Further, an attorney will ensure you are asking for all the things you could be entitled to and will work with you to create a plan for obtaining those things. In other words, a good divorce attorney will help protect your rights, your children, your income, and your assets, and will assist you in achieving your goals.
Contact DM Family Law at 443-545-8100 today.