G
Gemmi
Guest
What is the average length of time it takes to get a divorce? Do you have to be separated first? Is there any way to get a quick divorce?
GWguy
*
1 year with kids, 6 months without.
Yes
If one of you commits adultery, you can get a 30 day divorce, and a $10 fine, IF it is not contested.
I had no kids and was still obligated to be separated one full year. From the time she left to the time the papers were signed was 18 months.
E
(((echo)))
Guest
1 year uncontested
2 years contested
2 years contested
Dye Tied
Garden Variety Gnome
That was my situation also but kids were grown. We did our own divorce and I think it cost me $80. total.
sunman1_67
New Member
mommarock was just innocently standing by waiting for the guys to answer...lmao...all the guys were right...bout 18 months when all is said and done.
GWguy
*
I wasn't smart enough or in the right presence of mind to do that. Cost me about $2500. I wanted to be sure this wasn't going to come back to bite me in the azz because of something I overlooked.
B
Bronwyn
Guest
Mine took forever cause ding bat wouldn't sign the papers. Filed in Sep 1995 and it wasn't final until June 1998. The only reason it ended when it did was cause the judge told him to sign the papers at the custody hearing. 
On top of that, we lived in Pa and filed for the standard 90 day no fault divorce. They had no one year sep. requirement.
On top of that, we lived in Pa and filed for the standard 90 day no fault divorce. They had no one year sep. requirement.
onebdzee
off the shelf
1 year with kids, 6 months without.
Yes
If one of you commits adultery, you can get a 30 day divorce, and a $10 fine, IF it is not contested.
or if one of the partys goes to jail for more than 2 years
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Just went through this and about 2 weeks and $150 later the divorce was final..
Well, maybe not 2 weeks, we filed the paperwork ourselves.. $150 then had to wait for a court date.. in a week we had a court date, and the date was about 3 weeks later. Went to court, sat in front of a "master" and he asked us (me and ex) and a witness (VERY important, YOU have to supply a witness that will verify that you've been living apart, and it can be ANYBODY).. after that we had 10 days to contest it, than 3 weeks later the finalized divorce came in the mail.
Well, maybe not 2 weeks, we filed the paperwork ourselves.. $150 then had to wait for a court date.. in a week we had a court date, and the date was about 3 weeks later. Went to court, sat in front of a "master" and he asked us (me and ex) and a witness (VERY important, YOU have to supply a witness that will verify that you've been living apart, and it can be ANYBODY).. after that we had 10 days to contest it, than 3 weeks later the finalized divorce came in the mail.
B
Bronwyn
Guest
Yeah, I knew someone that recently got divorced here and they lied about living apart. The had a mutual friend that told the Master they had lived apart, when in fact he was still living in the basement and she was upstairs in the regular house.
onebdzee
off the shelf
I think that you can do that if neither party can afford to live in seperate residences
B
Bronwyn
Guest
Maybe so. They could afford. They just weren't in any hurry.
ShyGirl
Active Member
Divorce Tips
Public Utilities
Before you move out of the house, if you have never had public utilities in your name before, it may be a good idea to transfer the accounts into your name and for you to make the payments for the new account. That way, it will be easier for you to set up your own account.
SMECO
- $25 transfer fee is waived if the transfer is due to divorce
- $150 deposit for a new account is waived if the company’s records show that you submitted several payments for the previous account
Besche Oil
- waives fees due to divorce (can’t remember specifics)
Note: I’m not sure if this only applied because I stayed in the same residence. If you move and set up a new account, it’s probably just a new account, but it’s worth asking about.
Employment with Health/Dental/401K Benefits
In case you find yourself struggling financially and without health care benefits, consider part-time or full-time employment at Walmart/Sam’s Club or the Home Depot – they provide their employees with enough of a benefit package to provide some type of coverage.
Employer Benefit Considerations
Health Care Coverage
- Children can be covered up until they are 18 years old
- Children 18 – 21 years of age can be covered if they are enrolled in college and are taking classes for a specific amount of credit hours (determined by employer human resources)
- Sometimes companies allow disabled children to have unlimited coverage under their parent’s health care policy
- COBRA coverage allows people to continue to be covered by the same policy for up to 18 months after their coverage would have normally ended. This is usually EXPENSIVE and the cost comes out of your pocket.
Change your beneficiary designation on your Life Insurance policy
Change your beneficiary designation on your Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance policy
Change your beneficiary designation on your 401K or pension plan
Consider changing the level of coverage on your policies – you may not need as much once you are separated/divorced
Sources of Information
Maryland State Judiciary website - Maryland Judiciary
· Circuit Court Info
· Family Support Services
· Family Law Forms (Divorce)
o These helped me to identify and understand what the divorce was all about and to identify what considerations I needed from my ex (alimony, child support, etc…)
Credit Counselors/Debt Management Program - Welcome to DebtAdvice.org!
Credit Counselors of Maryland - Credit Counselors, Consumer Counseling Agency, Debt Management
3050 Crain Highway, Suite 301
Waldorf, MD 20601
1-800-737-2933
- I prepared a summary of my income and expenses and made an appointment to reassure myself that I COULD survive by myself with my salary or financial arrangement.
- It also helped me to identify the expenses that were necessary for my survival and which ones I could do without.
- I specifically told the counselor that I was NOT interested in any of their Debt Management Programs. They had advertised in one of the divorce books (that I had read) that they provided the type of counsel that I was looking for and I was holding them to it, without any expense to me! I just wanted to know if I could “get by” on my salary.
Divorce Tax Law Considerations - Internal Revenue Service
Specialized Publication 504 – Divorced or Separated Individuals
Specialized Publication 544 – Sales and Other Disposition of Assets
Specialized Publication 555 – Community Property
Specialized Publication 936 – Home Mortgage Interest Deduction
Specialized Publication 971 – Innocent Spouse Relief
Women’s Law Center of Maryland - The Women's Law Center of Maryland
Family Law Hotline
Legal Forms Helpline
Divorce Websites
DivorceNet - Divorce Net: Family Law Information, Solutions, News and Community
Divorce Headquarters - alimony, custody, support, attorneys, more
Divorce Laws, Information and Resources Online
Divorce Magazine: Divorce Lawyers, Family Law, Family Lawyers, Divorce Attorneys
St Mary's County, MD Divorce Forms - Info
Maryland Judiciary - Family Administration
Military Information Websites
Remember – access to military treatment facilities is dependent upon two things: valid DEERS eligibility and tricare enrollment
DEERS – TRICARE, Military Health System
Tricare – www.hnfs.net (managed by Health Net Federal Services)
Name Change Considerations
Driver’s License – MVA Home Page
Social Security Card – Social Security Online
Passport – Passport Home
All other accounts
Employer records
IRS
Good Book Resources:
Your Divorce Advisor – written by Diana Mercer and Marsha Kline Pruett
Learning to Leave – A Woman’s Guide – written by Lynette Triere with Richard Peacock
The Dollars and Sense of Divorce – written by Judith Briles, Edwin Schilling and Carol Ann Wilson
Your Divorce Dollars – Financial Planning Before During and After Divorce – written by Akeela Davis
Emotional Support
DivorceCare - Leonardtown – St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
For more information: DivorceCare: Divorce Recovery Support Groups
- It’s a group of people meeting once a week to watch informative videos about the (emotional) phases of divorce and to provide encouragement to work through these phases.
- It helped me to understand that I was going through a “normal” process even though my emotions were similar to a terrifying rollercoaster ride.
- I’m not affiliated with any kind of church, so I felt awkward, but they made me feel welcome.
Behavioral/Mental Health Counsel
- Some employers provide coverage for this benefit.
Can be part of health benefits
Can be part of a separate employee assistance benefit program
- Sometimes, there is a co-pay involved
- Some counselors are willing to negotiate rates
This information was compiled in November 2004.
Public Utilities
Before you move out of the house, if you have never had public utilities in your name before, it may be a good idea to transfer the accounts into your name and for you to make the payments for the new account. That way, it will be easier for you to set up your own account.
SMECO
- $25 transfer fee is waived if the transfer is due to divorce
- $150 deposit for a new account is waived if the company’s records show that you submitted several payments for the previous account
Besche Oil
- waives fees due to divorce (can’t remember specifics)
Note: I’m not sure if this only applied because I stayed in the same residence. If you move and set up a new account, it’s probably just a new account, but it’s worth asking about.
Employment with Health/Dental/401K Benefits
In case you find yourself struggling financially and without health care benefits, consider part-time or full-time employment at Walmart/Sam’s Club or the Home Depot – they provide their employees with enough of a benefit package to provide some type of coverage.
Employer Benefit Considerations
Health Care Coverage
- Children can be covered up until they are 18 years old
- Children 18 – 21 years of age can be covered if they are enrolled in college and are taking classes for a specific amount of credit hours (determined by employer human resources)
- Sometimes companies allow disabled children to have unlimited coverage under their parent’s health care policy
- COBRA coverage allows people to continue to be covered by the same policy for up to 18 months after their coverage would have normally ended. This is usually EXPENSIVE and the cost comes out of your pocket.
Change your beneficiary designation on your Life Insurance policy
Change your beneficiary designation on your Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance policy
Change your beneficiary designation on your 401K or pension plan
Consider changing the level of coverage on your policies – you may not need as much once you are separated/divorced
Sources of Information
Maryland State Judiciary website - Maryland Judiciary
· Circuit Court Info
· Family Support Services
· Family Law Forms (Divorce)
o These helped me to identify and understand what the divorce was all about and to identify what considerations I needed from my ex (alimony, child support, etc…)
Credit Counselors/Debt Management Program - Welcome to DebtAdvice.org!
Credit Counselors of Maryland - Credit Counselors, Consumer Counseling Agency, Debt Management
3050 Crain Highway, Suite 301
Waldorf, MD 20601
1-800-737-2933
- I prepared a summary of my income and expenses and made an appointment to reassure myself that I COULD survive by myself with my salary or financial arrangement.
- It also helped me to identify the expenses that were necessary for my survival and which ones I could do without.
- I specifically told the counselor that I was NOT interested in any of their Debt Management Programs. They had advertised in one of the divorce books (that I had read) that they provided the type of counsel that I was looking for and I was holding them to it, without any expense to me! I just wanted to know if I could “get by” on my salary.
Divorce Tax Law Considerations - Internal Revenue Service
Specialized Publication 504 – Divorced or Separated Individuals
Specialized Publication 544 – Sales and Other Disposition of Assets
Specialized Publication 555 – Community Property
Specialized Publication 936 – Home Mortgage Interest Deduction
Specialized Publication 971 – Innocent Spouse Relief
Women’s Law Center of Maryland - The Women's Law Center of Maryland
Family Law Hotline
Legal Forms Helpline
Divorce Websites
DivorceNet - Divorce Net: Family Law Information, Solutions, News and Community
Divorce Headquarters - alimony, custody, support, attorneys, more
Divorce Laws, Information and Resources Online
Divorce Magazine: Divorce Lawyers, Family Law, Family Lawyers, Divorce Attorneys
St Mary's County, MD Divorce Forms - Info
Maryland Judiciary - Family Administration
Military Information Websites
Remember – access to military treatment facilities is dependent upon two things: valid DEERS eligibility and tricare enrollment
DEERS – TRICARE, Military Health System
Tricare – www.hnfs.net (managed by Health Net Federal Services)
Name Change Considerations
Driver’s License – MVA Home Page
Social Security Card – Social Security Online
Passport – Passport Home
All other accounts
Employer records
IRS
Good Book Resources:
Your Divorce Advisor – written by Diana Mercer and Marsha Kline Pruett
Learning to Leave – A Woman’s Guide – written by Lynette Triere with Richard Peacock
The Dollars and Sense of Divorce – written by Judith Briles, Edwin Schilling and Carol Ann Wilson
Your Divorce Dollars – Financial Planning Before During and After Divorce – written by Akeela Davis
Emotional Support
DivorceCare - Leonardtown – St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
For more information: DivorceCare: Divorce Recovery Support Groups
- It’s a group of people meeting once a week to watch informative videos about the (emotional) phases of divorce and to provide encouragement to work through these phases.
- It helped me to understand that I was going through a “normal” process even though my emotions were similar to a terrifying rollercoaster ride.
- I’m not affiliated with any kind of church, so I felt awkward, but they made me feel welcome.
Behavioral/Mental Health Counsel
- Some employers provide coverage for this benefit.
Can be part of health benefits
Can be part of a separate employee assistance benefit program
- Sometimes, there is a co-pay involved
- Some counselors are willing to negotiate rates
This information was compiled in November 2004.
Mikeinsmd
New Member
ShyGirl
Active Member
Mikeinsmd
New Member
I had my ducks in a row once. Then they flew away.Just wanted to make sure that I had my ducks in a row...