Limited Divorce in Divorce in Maryland

§ 7-102. Limited divorce (a) Grounds for limited divorce.

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) Attempts at reconciliation. -- 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) Time during which decree is effective. -- The court may decree a divorce under this section for a limited time or for an indefinite time. (d) Revocation of decree. -- The court that granted a decree of limited divorce may revoke the decree at any time on the joint application of the parties. (e) Decree of limited divorce on prayer for absolute divorce. -- 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.