In Maryland, do I need a hearing if my divorce is uncontested?

When it comes to the topic of divorce, it’s not uncommon to hear people talk about the dissolution of a couple’s marriage as being either contested or uncontested. In legal terms, contested means that the couple does not agree on at least one of the terms of the divorce, whether this ends up being a proposed custody arrangement or how assets should be divided.

On the other hand, an uncontested divorce means that the couple agrees on all aspects of the divorce, from property division to custody. As we have pointed out before on our blog, uncontested divorces typically save couples considerable time and even more money. But if the couple agrees on all aspects of the divorce, does this mean that they still have to go through a final divorce hearing?

In Maryland, the answer is yes. This is because Maryland law requires the court to “take testimony on the grounds for divorce.” So while a couple might completely agree on why the marriage is ending and who should get what property (among other things), the couple will still have to attend a final divorce hearing to put their testimony on record.

Even though Maryland couples going through an uncontested divorce must go through a final divorce hearing, it’s important to note that such proceedings are oftentimes quite short. This likely comes as good news to a number of our Gaithersburg readers who are looking forward to their divorce being quick and amicable.

Some couples may be able to come to an agreement about their divorce on their own, some couples need help from an experienced family law attorney. At the McKeon Law Firm, we offer help to divorcing couples across Montgomery County, whether or not they intend on making their divorce uncontested.