Sample Maryland Marital Separation
Is Marital Settlement Agreement the one last Hail Mary?
It works until it doesn’t. If yours started as the dream marriage but, it is now getting sour, and you don’t want to cause any more hurt, then you should consider a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA), the last Hail Mary ensuring that you can still see eye to eye, even after a divorce. Marital Settlement Agreement Maryland also goes by Property Settlement Agreement. It is the written contract that settles your problems around custody and alimony by dividing your property and spelling out your rights.
The best part about the Maryland Marital Settlement Agreement is that it may be drawn before or even after you file for a divorce, and even when you and your spouse still live together.
In the initial stages when you execute a marital separation agreement, you do not have to file the separation agreement in court for the separation to be effective.
The Maryland Marital Separation Agreement/ the Property Separation Agreement covers visitation, child support payments as applicable in the Maryland Law, spousal maintenance as applicable under Maryland Laws, the division of debts, property division, health insurance, pension plans, tax issues, disposition of the marital home, and any future dispute settlements.
When do you need a Marital Settlement Agreement?
Unfortunately, most people filing the marital settlement agreement eventually file for a divorce. And, having the Marital Settlement Agreement in Maryland will simplify your divorce proceedings and pleadings making the process clear. With the agreement, it is clear that you have, before the court, an uncontested divorce.
You need a marital settlement agreement to provide for the future governance of your relationship. The agreement will also offer the court evidence of the day of your separation. So, this agreement clears doubts about the details of the coming to an end of your marital relationship. It is preferable to have the agreement in writing.
When don’t you require a Marital Settlement Agreement?
In case you don’t have any marital property, joint debts, or children, then, you do not need a marital separation agreement for you to get a no-fault divorce.
Filing a Marital Settlement Agreement in Maryland
Initially, you do not have to file the agreement in a Maryland court for it to be effective. But, in the typical separation agreement or the stipulation of the settlement resolving a divorce, it should state whether or not - the agreement will survive the judgement of a divorce as a separate contract, or if it should be merged/ incorporated in the judgement of the divorce, allowing for a modification similar to a court order.
The Big Question
When it does not matter – if it doesn’t matter, your decision will not affect custody and visitation as the issues can be modified until your child reaches the age of 18. This decision doesn’t affect the distribution of property as well.
When it matters significantly – three things are addressed:
Child Support – if the agreement on the divorce merges into the judgment, the court modifies the support upward or downward if a change in circumstance warrants modification. But, if the agreement survives the court’s judgment, the standard upward modification in an unforeseen/ unanticipated change of circumstances will warrant an increase in support. Unfortunately, a request for a downward modification in support is harder to prove.
Spousal Support / Maintenance – if you stipulate in advance in your divorce agreement that the agreement be merged into the judgment of divorce, the court can, later on, modify the duration plus the amount in maintenance if circumstances presented warrant raising or lowering of the amount. But, if the divorce agreement survives the judgment, then the court is unable to modify the contract.
Right to Sue – The other party can still sue under contract law to enforce the contractual obligation or to obtain a money judgment for the owed amount and to collect it. But, this only applies if the agreement survives the process as a separate contract, even if the court modifies the judgment.
For How Long Are You Bound by the Marital Settlement Agreement?
The separation agreement is a legal document that binds you through years. It will determine your obligations, rights, and responsibilities from your marriage. If you and your spouse consent to any changes, you can amend the agreement.
Understanding the difference between contested and uncontested divorces
The contested divorces are the divorces in which the respondents dispute the issues with the case including the divorce, property division, alimony, and child custody, among others.
On the other hand, uncontested divorces, which can be consent or default divorces are the ones which all parties agree on all the major issues, and the respondent fails to appear to contest the divorce or issues in it respectively.
Note that, legal separation through the Marital Separation Agreement in Maryland renders your divorce an uncontested divorce.
How should you decide?
We cannot decide for you but keep in mind that some cases will take years in court others won’t last a day!
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Whether you live in Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville or any other city of Maryland, you can use our legal forms easily.
Sample
MD Marital Separation Agreement
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