It is all too common that a spouse files a petition for a protective order in the heat of the moment, then upon reflection wishes to withdraw his/her petition. Is there a legal way to drop a protective order? Dropping The Interim Or Temporary Protective Order In Maryland, when you file a petition for a [...]
What happens in a protective order case when you are asked to pay “support” money when the protective order lasts? Or you require money to support yourself and your family after the court has ordered the parent of your children out of the house for one year. Support for minor children or of a spouse [...]
Whether you have been threatened with violence by a household member or have been falsely accused of committing a violent act against a member of your family, you should acquaint yourself with the Maryland Protective Order process. A Maryland protective order is a type of restraining order which can be issued by a Judge in [...]
In 2018, the Maryland Legislature passed a bill signed into law by Governor Hogan creating Maryland's Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO). This kind of protective order is specific to a person who poses an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having firearms. This kind of temporary order has [...]
Q: What is an Emergency Protective Order or Peace Order? A: This is a term some people use to refer to Protective Orders and Peace Orders. There are no such terms as Emergency Protective or Emergency Peace Orders in Maryland. All such orders are obtained the same way and issued on an emergency basis. Q: [...]
When a person in Maryland feels like they are being threatened, harassed, or abused by another person, there are two ways the person can petition a court for relief: through a peace order or a protective order. But what is the difference? A Protective Order is a type of restraining order which can be issued [...]
What if you are the person falsely accused of harassment who is served with a temporary peace order in Maryland? Does this go on your “record”? Under Maryland law, anyone may petition a court or commissioner to request a halt to what they believe is abusive, threatening, harmful, or harassing behavior as defined in Md. [...]
If you are the prevailing partner in a protective order case, you may qualify for Emergency Family Maintenance (EFM). You may know that in any case involving a child or children, or in a case where the partners are married, you are entitled to ask the Court for Emergency Family Maintenance. However, before a Court [...]
While Maryland’s harassment laws do not require the victim to formally request the harasser to stop by letter, some documentation goes a long way in establishing your displeasure with the offender’s actions—hence the cease and desist letter- often at a lower cost than hiring an attorney to pursue other actions. What is a cease and [...]
Reprinted with permission from the author: Wendy Patrick, Esquire, PhD. Many domestic violence victims suffer in silence. Enduring a steady pattern of abuse and humiliation at home, they bravely attempt to present a solid exterior in public. Sometimes they pull it off; usually, they do not. We notice the signs. Whether physical or emotional, red flags are flying. In such cases, some people [...]
