This is a sample judgment of absolute divorce. If applicable, it should be accompanied by a QDRO, a QMCSO, or an earnings withholding order for child support or alimony. One can add infinite detail in the event a judge starts parceling out bits and pieces of property, or orders sales in lieu of partition, or whatever.

______, / * / IN THE
Plaintiff / * / CIRCUIT COURT FOR
vs. / * / ______county
______, / *
Defendant / * / CASE NO: ______
***** / * / **** *

JUDGMENT OF ABSOLUTE DIVORCE

THIS MATTER came before the Court on [date] for a trial on the merits. Both the Plaintiff and the Defendant were present with counsel. The court received testimony and arguments and thereafter rendered its oral opinion, memorialized in this Judgment of Absolute Divorce. It is therefore this day of , by the Circuit Court for [county] County, Maryland,

ORDEREDthat the [name of Plaintiff] shall be and hereby is granted an absolute divorce from [name of Defendant]; and it is further

ORDERED that that the parties will share joint legal custody of the minor child, [name of child], born on [date of birth]; and it is further

ORDERED that primary physical custody of [child] is granted to [party’s name] (the Father”); and it is further

ORDERED that [party’s name](“the Mother”), shall have visitation according to the following schedule:

  1. On the first, third, and fifth weekends of every month from after school on Friday through 8:00 P.M. on Sunday;
  2. Thanksgiving vacation shall be after school on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through 8:00 P.M. on the Sunday following Thanksgiving; the Father shall have Thanksgiving during even numbered years, and the Mother shall have Thanksgiving during odd numbered years;
  3. The first half of Christmas vacation shall be after school on the last day of school before Christmas through 2:00 P.M. on December 26th, and the second half of Christmas vacation shall be 2:00 P.M. on December 26th through 8:00 P.M. on the day before school starts again; in even numbered years the Father shall have the first half and the Mother shall have the second half, and in odd numbered years the Mother shall have the first half and the Father shall have the second half;
  4. Spring break shall be after school on the last day of school before the break through 8:00 P.M. on the day before school starts again; in even numbered years the Father shall Spring break and in odd numbered years the Mother shall have Spring break;
  5. Every year the Mother shall have Mother’s Day from 9:00 A.M. through 8:00 P.M.;
  6. Every year the Father shall have Father’s Day from 9:00 A.M. through 8:00 P.M.;
  7. During the summer break from school, the parties shall have alternate weeks from 8:00 P.M. on Sunday through 8:00 P.M. on Sunday;
  8. Holidays, school vacations, and teacher in-service days shall supersede regularly scheduled weekends; and it is further

ORDERED that each parent shall ensure that [child] have daily contact with the other parent; and it is further

ORDERED that both parties shall have access to [child]’s school information, both shall be entitled to attend any school events, and both shall be listed as contacts on the school notification list; and it is further

ORDERED that, if the parties are unable to resolve any problems they have regarding Moriah, they shall participate in two sessions of mediation prior to filing anything with this Court; and it is further

ORDERED that:

  1. Beginning on [date], [party] shall pay, through the Maryland Child Support Account, P.O. Box 17396, Baltimore, MD 21297-1396, by a wage lien, the sum of [amount] per month for the support and maintenance of the minor child, until the child reaches the age of 18, dies, marries, or becomes self-supporting, which ever comes first; however, if at the time of termination by reason of age, [child] has not yet completed secondary school and is enrolled in secondary school, support shall continue until the completion of secondary school or the occurrence of any other terminating event, but in any event no longer than arrival at age nineteen (19) ; and it is further,
  2. The [party] shall continue to provide medical, dental, and vision care insurance for the minor child;
  3. The parties shall equally divide all uncovered medical, dental, and optical care expenses for the minor child;
  4. The [party] is required to notify the Court within ten days of any change of address or employment as long as the child support order is in effect; failure to comply with this requirement will subject the Plaintiff to a penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and may result in the [party]’s not receiving notice of proceedings for earnings withholding; and it is further

ORDERED that [party] that shall pay rehabilitative alimony in the amount of [amount] per month effective the date of this Judgment of Absolute Divorce and continuing until [date]; and it is further

ORDERED that [party] shall be granted use and possession of the family home and the family use personal property for a period of three years from the date of this Judgment of Absolute Divorce; and it is further

ORDERED that a ruling on [party]’s entitlement to contributions from [party] shall be reserved until the expiration of the use and possession period; and it is further

ORDERED that [party] shall pay directly to [party] the sum of [amount] as a monetary award to adjust the respective rights and equities of the parties in their marital property and said monetary award shall be reduced to a judgment in favor of [party], said sum to be paid as follows: [amount] within ten days of the entry of this Judgment of Absolute Divorce, and the balance in five annual installments of [amount] each, payable on the anniversary dates of this Judgment of Divorce; and it is further

.ORDERED that this Judgment of Absolute Divorce shall constitute a Qualified Domestic Relations Order that defines the rights of the parties to receive retirement benefits if, as, and when distributed as set forth more fully in the attached Qualified Domestic Relations Order. The Court retains its jurisdiction to amend the Qualified Domestic Relations Order for the purpose of maintaining its qualification as a qualified order under the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 or any subsequent applicable legislation. Both parties and the plan administrator of ([party]’s retirement plan (“the Plan”) shall take whatever actions may be necessary to establish or maintain this qualification provided that no such amendment shall require the Plan to provide any type or form of benefits or options not otherwise provided under the Plan and provided that no such amendment shall invalidate the Order as “qualified” under the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 or any subsequent applicable legislation; and it is further

ORDERED that [party] shall pay directly to [attorney], counsel for [party], the sum of [amount] as a contribution to [party]’s attorney’s fees incurred in these proceedings and said obligation shall be reduced to a judgment in favor of [attorney]; and it is further

ORDERED that [party] be restored to the use of her former name, [party’s former name]; and it is further

ORDERED that [party] shall pay all open court costs and any other costs of these proceedings.

The Hon. [Judge]

Circuit Court for [county] County,

Maryland

Recommended by:

The Hon. [Magistrate] Family Magistrate

Approved as for form and content:

PlaintiffDefendant

[Attorney’s Name][Attorney’s Name]

Attorney for the PlaintiffAttorney for the Defendant

Copies to:

[attorney]

Attorney for Plaintiff

[attorney]

Attorney for Defendant

[county] Child Support Enforcement Administration

Judgment of Absolute Divorce
Page 1 of 6 / Plaintiff vs. Defendant
C-00-0000000