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§ 10-502. Bigamy

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal Law

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Criminal Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 5. Crimes Against Marriage
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-502
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 27, § 18; MD CODE Art. 27, § 19
§ 10-502. Bigamy
Scope of section
(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.
Prohibited
(b) While lawfully married to a living person, a person may not enter into a marriage ceremony with another.
Penalty
(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.
Charging document
(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.”.

Credits

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002.
Formerly Art. 27, §§ 18,19.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 10-502, MD CRIM LAW § 10-502
Current with all legislation from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document