Protective & Peace Order

Protective Orders  

A person can obtain an order of protection for themselves or their children, in either the District or Circuit Courts. A Protective Order can be sought by an individual who has a familial or sexual relationship with the individual against whom protection is sought because of abuse. 

In Maryland, examples of abuse include: 

  • An act that causes serious bodily harm (e.g., kicking, punching, choking/strangling, shoving, shooting, hitting with an object, stabbing, or biting); 
  • An act that places a person in fear of imminent serious bodily harm (including threats of harm); 
  • Assault; 
  • Rape or sexual assault; 
  • False imprisonment; 
  • Mental injury to a minor child; 
  • Stalking; or 
  • Revenge porn 

To be eligible for a Protective Order, you must fall into one of these categories: 

  • A current or former spouse of the abuser (also called the Respondent); 
  • A cohabitant of an abuser; 
  • A person related to the respondent by blood, marriage, or adoption; 
  • A parent, stepparent, child, or stepchild of the respondent or the person eligible for relief who resides (or resided) with the respondent or person eligible for relief for at least 90 days within 1 year before the filing of the petition; 
  • A vulnerable adult; 
  • A person who has a child in common with the respondent; 
  • A person who had a sexual relationship with the abuser within 1 year before filing for relief; or 
  • A person who alleges that within 6 months before the filing of the petition, the respondent committed rape or a sexual offense or attempted rape or sexual offense. 

Temporary Protective Order 

To obtain immediate relief, an individual can obtain a Temporary Protective Order which will remain in effect for not more than 7 days after law enforcement has given the abuser a copy of the order (i.e., service).  You must attend a Final Protective Order hearing to extend the length and scope of protection contained in the Temporary Protective Order.   

Final Protective Order 

As the person seeking relief, you hold the burden of proof by “preponderance of the evidence,” to show more likely than not that the abuse occurred, and you are eligible for relief.  

If the Judge finds that the abuse did occur, the Judge may order one (or all) of the following for up to 1 year: 

  • Order the abuser to stop abusing or threatening to abuse you; 
  • Order the abuser to stay away from you and to not try to contact you or harass you; 
  • Order the abuser to stay out of your home; 
  • If you are married to the abuser AND you were living together at the time of the abuse, the court can order the abuser to leave the home where the two of you live; 
  • If you are not married to the abuser, but were living together at the time of the abuse AND your name is on the lease or deed for the home OR you lived with the abuser for at least ninety 90 days within the past year, the court can order the abuser to leave the home; 
  • Order the abuser to stay away from your job, your school, the place where you may be staying, from your children’s school(s), and from your family members’ homes; 
  • Order that you be given temporary custody of any children that you have with the abuser (including the use of reasonable and necessary force to return the minor child to the custodial parent) and, depending on safety considerations, the Judge may condition or restrict visitation; 
  • Order that you be given temporary custody of any pets you own with the abuser; 
  • If you are married, order the abuser to pay money to help support you during the order; 
  • If you have children with the abuser, order the abuser to pay support for the children; 
  • If you own a car with the abuser, the court may order that you have sole use of the car for the period of the order (you must tell the judge that the car is necessary in order to get you to work or to transport a child); 
  • Order the abuser or you to participate in a counseling program (domestic violence and/or drug/alcohol); 
  • Order the abuser to surrender firearms; 
  • Order the abuser to stay away from a child care location; or 
  • Any other relief that a judge determines to be necessary to protect you from abuse. 

Peace Order 

If you do not meet the qualifications for a Protective Order, you still may be able to obtain a Peace Order to protect against continued harassment and stalking, abuse, trespass, malicious destruction of property, revenge porn, misuse of telephonic communication or illegal visual surveillance. You must file for a Peace Order within  30 days of the act occurring and peace orders are in effect for 6 months, with the option to extend it for an additional 6 months. 

Preparing for Your Hearing 

In preparing for your Protective Order or Peace Order hearing, it is important to remember that like any hearing, the Court will render its decision based on the evidence presented.  The following actions can assist you in obtaining the necessary evidence: 

  • Take pictures of any visible bruises. 
  • Get copies of any police reports. 
  • Determine whether anyone saw the abuse and ask that person to testify on your behalf. 
  • If you have not already done so, talk to the police about filing criminal charges. 
  • If you are seeking financial relief (also known as Emergency Family Maintenance), get copies of your most recent pay stubs, living expenses (mortgage, lease, utilities, car insurance, car payment, daycare, etc.) and any income (pay stubs) or bank information you may have regarding the abuser. 

Attorney Assistance  

These types of hearings involve safety issues and relationships that are highly emotional and conflictual in nature.  To ensure the outcome desired, the assistance of an attorney who understands the applicable law and can be your calming voice  in communicating your concerns to the court may be extremely helpful.  Emily Koning, Senior Attorney with FLAG, has vast experience advocating for clients in Protective Order and Peace Order hearings.  She will explain to you the applicable law, your options and the best course of action.  Emily is a compassionate, empathetic listener who will devote the time necessary to fully understand all aspects of your case and then guide you through the process with strong, proactive advocacy providing you with the voice you need and the advocacy you deserve.  

To schedule an initial consultation with Emily please contact our office at (410) 884-0400.        

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