2013 Maryland Code
FAMILY LAW
§ 7-102 - Limited divorce

§7-102.

(a) The court may decree a limited divorce on the following grounds:

(1) cruelty of treatment of the complaining party or of a minor child of the complaining party;

(2) excessively vicious conduct to the complaining party or to a minor child of the complaining party;

(3) desertion; or

(4) voluntary separation, if:

(i) the parties are living separate and apart without cohabitation; and

(ii) there is no reasonable expectation of reconciliation.

(b) As a condition precedent to granting a decree of limited divorce, the court may:

(1) require the parties to participate in good faith in the efforts to achieve reconciliation that the court prescribes; and

(2) assess the costs of any efforts to achieve reconciliation that the court prescribes.

(c) The court may decree a divorce under this section for a limited time or for an indefinite time.

(d) The court that granted a decree of limited divorce may revoke the decree at any time on the joint application of the parties.

(e) If an absolute divorce is prayed and the evidence is sufficient to entitle the parties to a limited divorce, but not to an absolute divorce, the court may decree a limited divorce.