You can file for divorce online in Maryland through the state’s electronic court system, MDEC, and the court’s filing fee is $165 whether you submit online or in person. Online filing works for both uncontested and contested cases, though it moves fastest when you and your spouse have already agreed on the terms. Since Maryland rewrote its divorce law in October 2023, the grounds are simpler and the paperwork is more predictable than it used to be.
Who Can File in Maryland
At least one spouse has to be a Maryland resident. If everything that led to the divorce happened outside the state, one spouse must have lived in Maryland continuously for six months before filing. Active-duty military members who established Maryland residency before entering the service can still file here even if they’ve been stationed elsewhere.
Maryland recognizes three grounds for absolute divorce, and you’ll pick one on your complaint:1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Family Law 7-103
- Mutual consent. You and your spouse sign a written settlement agreement resolving alimony, property division, and the custody and support of any minor or dependent children. A completed child support guidelines worksheet must be attached if the agreement provides for child support.
- Six-month separation. You’ve lived separate and apart without interruption for at least six months before filing. You can still be under the same roof if you’re pursuing separate lives, and a court-ordered separation counts.
- Irreconcilable differences. Either spouse believes the marriage should end. No waiting period, no need for the other spouse to agree.2Maryland Courts. Divorce
Mutual consent is the fastest path because the court doesn’t need testimony about what went wrong. The hearing is typically short and focused on confirming that the agreement is fair.
What to Prepare Before You File
The main document is the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, Form CC-DR-020, which asks the court to end the marriage and states what you’re asking for.2Maryland Courts. Divorce You’ll also file a Civil Domestic Information Report, Form CC-DCM-001, which gives the court an overview of the issues.3Maryland Courts. Civil Domestic Information Report CC-DCM-001 Both are fillable PDFs on the Maryland Judiciary website.4Maryland Courts. Family Law Court Forms
Before you start filling anything out, gather Social Security numbers for both spouses, the location where the marriage took place, and information about shared debts and financial accounts. If minor children are involved, you’ll need a five-year history of where each child has lived to satisfy custody jurisdiction rules.
Financial Statement
When alimony or child support is on the table, the court needs a financial statement. Which form you use depends on income, not the length of the marriage. Use Form CC-DR-030 if the parties’ combined gross monthly income is $30,000 or less. Use Form CC-DR-031 if it’s above $30,000.2Maryland Courts. Divorce Cross-check every figure against pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements. Inconsistencies here are one of the fastest ways to delay your case.
Parenting Plan
Cases involving minor children need a parenting plan covering decision-making authority, the regular custody schedule, holidays and vacations, transportation, and how the parents will handle future disagreements.5Maryland Courts. Maryland Parenting Plan Tool CC-DR-109 The Maryland Parenting Plan Tool, Form CC-DR-109, walks you through each of those. If you and your spouse agree, file one joint plan as part of your settlement. If you don’t, each side files a plan and the judge decides.
Settlement Agreement for Mutual Consent
If you’re filing on mutual consent grounds, you need a signed Marital Settlement Agreement, Form CC-DR-116, in place before you file. It has to cover alimony, property division, and the care, custody, and support of any minor or dependent children. Both signatures need to be there when you upload it.
How to File Online Through MDEC
Maryland’s electronic court system runs on the Odyssey File and Serve platform from Tyler Technologies.6Maryland Courts. E-filing Service Providers Self-represented filers aren’t required to use it, but there’s a rule worth knowing before you start: once you e-file a single document, you’re locked in and must e-file everything from that point on, in this case and any future case.7Maryland Courts. E-filing for Self-Represented Litigants Make sure you’re comfortable running your case online before you register.
The steps look like this:8Maryland Courts. How to E-File
- Register for an account on the Odyssey File and Serve portal. You’ll need a working email address and a credit card on file.
- Select the circuit court for the county where you or your spouse lives.
- Enter the case and party information.
- Upload your completed PDF forms and assign each one the correct filing code. You can bundle multiple documents into one filing envelope.
- Submit and pay. The system returns an electronic file stamp confirming the court has received and recorded your case.
If the platform gives you trouble, the Maryland Judiciary Customer Services Desk answers at 410-260-1114 or mdcourts@service-now.com. For questions about the court process rather than the software, call the clerk’s office in the circuit court where you filed.9Maryland Courts. Contact
The Filing Fee and Waiver
The court’s filing fee for a divorce complaint is $165 when you file on your own, and $185 if an attorney files for you.10Maryland Courts. Summary of Charges, Costs, and Fees of the Clerks of the Circuit Court Paying by credit card through the e-filing platform adds a processing fee on top of that, so your total charge will be slightly higher.
If you can’t afford to pay, submit a Request for Waiver of Costs, Form CC-DC-089, with your complaint. The court uses income guidelines but can also consider other circumstances. If the waiver is granted, the clerk opens your case at no cost. If it’s denied, you have 10 days to pay the fee, or the case is treated as withdrawn.11Maryland Courts. Filing Fee Waivers
What Happens After You File
Filing opens the case. It doesn’t end the marriage. The next step is formally notifying your spouse under Maryland Rule 2-121, which allows two main methods.12New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Rules Rule 2-121 – Process, Service, In Personam A private process server or sheriff can hand-deliver the complaint and summons, usually for $20 to $100. Or you can send copies of the summons, complaint, and all filed documents by certified mail with restricted delivery, meaning only your spouse can sign for the package. Either way, you have to file proof of service afterward: the signed return receipt for certified mail, or an affidavit from the server for personal delivery. If you can’t locate your spouse, service by posting or publication is possible but requires court approval.
Your spouse then has 30 days from the date of service to file an answer, 60 days if served elsewhere in the United States, and 90 days if served outside the country.13New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Rules Rule 2-321 – Time for Filing Answer If your spouse doesn’t answer, the court can enter an order of default, and while the case still goes to a hearing, the non-responding spouse loses the ability to contest the terms. If your spouse files an answer disputing the terms or a counter-claim on different grounds, the case becomes contested and moves into discovery, possible mediation, and eventually trial.
Every Maryland divorce ends with a hearing before a judge, even when both sides agree. The judge confirms jurisdiction, reviews the settlement agreement or hears evidence on the disputed issues, and signs the final decree of absolute divorce. Certified copies go to both parties.
Other Costs to Budget For
The $165 court fee is just the starting point. Service of process runs about $20 to $100 through a private server, or less if you use certified mail. Notarization costs up to $8 per signature in person with a Maryland notary, or up to $30 for remote notarization.14Maryland Secretary of State. Notary Division Certified copies of the final decree carry small fees from the clerk’s office. In a contested case, attorney fees and expert costs can outweigh all of the above combined, which is one more reason reaching a settlement agreement before filing pays off.