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Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 10-502

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) This section does not apply to a person if:

(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.

(b) While lawfully married to a living person, a person may not enter into a marriage ceremony with another.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of bigamy and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 9 years.

(d) An indictment or warrant for bigamy is sufficient if it substantially states:

“(name of defendant) on (date), in (county), having a living spouse, feloniously entered into a marriage ceremony with (name of subsequent spouse), in violation of § 10-502 of the Criminal Law Article, against the peace, government, and dignity of the State.”.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 10-502 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/criminal-law/md-code-crim-law-sect-10-502/

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