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If you have been abused by a family member or someone with whom you are in a romantic relationship, you are eligible to file a Petition for Protective Order against the person responsible for the abuse. While filing the Petition itself may seem straightforward, there are a few things you may not know about the legal process. Learn more about the process here.

Whether you’re the person filing for a protective order (Petitioner) or the person against whom the Protective Order is filed (Respondent), Maryland law gives the parties a period of up to six months to decide whether to seek a final protective order or to dismiss the case, if they choose to. This window often serves as a golden opportunity for the parties to enter into discussions to attempt to settle some of their outstanding differences. Find out more about this cooling off period in this post.

In Maryland, the process for getting a peace order or protective order from a District Court judge, District Court commissioner, or Circuit Court judge is a relatively easy one. Learn More.

For some of you, your first involvement with the Maryland court system will occur when you are named as a “Respondent” in a protective order or a peace order. If this happens to you, you may not fully appreciate the many traps you could face. Learn more about what can happen.