VETOES

AN ACT concerning

Family Law - Enforcement of Deeds,
Agreements, and Settlements

FOR the purpose of clarifying that a court may enforce by power
of contempt the provisions of a deed, agreement, or
settlement that is merged into a divorce decree; clarifying
that a court may enforce by power of contempt or as an
independent contract not superseded by the divorce decree
the provisions of a deed, agreement, or settlement that
contains language that the deed, decree, or settlement is
incorporated but not merged into a divorce decree; providing
for the application of this Act; and generally relating to
the enforcement of deeds, agreements, and settlements.

BY adding to

Article - Family Law

Section 8-105

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Volume and 1988 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

8-105.

(A)  THE COURT MAY ENFORCE BY POWER OF CONTEMPT THE
PROVISIONS OF A DEED, AGREEMENT, OR SETTLEMENT THAT IS MERGED
INTO A DIVORCE DECREE.

(B)  THE COURT MAY ENFORCE BY POWER OF CONTEMPT OR AS AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACT NOT SUPERSEDED BY THE DIVORCE DECREE THE
PROVISIONS OF A DEED, AGREEMENT, OR SETTLEMENT THAT CONTAINS
LANGUAGE THAT THE DEED, AGREEMENT, OR SETTLEMENT IS INCORPORATED
BUT NOT MERGED INTO A DIVORCE DECREE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall

be construed retroactively, and shall apply to all divorce

decrees, including those divorce decrees entered before July 1,
1989.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1989.

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