Maryland law requires that employers timely pay their employees. It is difficult to understand why a change of name would hold up pay for a year. An employer would have problems issuing a check to a spouse, it would need to go the employee him/herself.
I strongly encourage you to consult with an attorney to get some assistance. Legally changing one's name and opening up new bank accounts is fairly easily done. Depending on the circumstances and amount of time that has lapsed one can exempt some property from garnishment (that is, even if accounts have been frozen in Maryland one can keep a certain amount out of reach of creditors).
