Maryland · Maryland Code — Criminal Law Article
Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-502: (a) This section does not apply to a person if: - 426 - (1) the person’s previous lawful spouse has been absent from the person for a continuous period of 7 years; and (2) the person does not know whether the person’s previous lawful spouse is living at the time of the subsequent marriage ceremony
What this law says, in plain English
A person cannot marry another while lawfully married to a living person. Violating this bigamy prohibition is a felony punishable by up to 9 years imprisonment, except when the prior spouse has been absent for 7 continuous years and their status is unknown.
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.