§ 10-502

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10-502, under Article — Criminal Law.

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10-502

(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.”.