It’s one or more abusive acts between family or household members, or victims of sexual assault. Get help.
It’s a court order that says one person must refrain from doing certain acts against another person. It’s Maryland’s version of a restraining order or stay-away order.
You must have a certain type of relationship with the other person to be eligible for a protective order. Your relationship qualifies if you:
A peace order is another way the court can protect you. Any relationship that does NOT qualify for a protective order is eligible for a peace order. Those relationships include neighbors, strangers, or someone with whom you have a non-sexual dating relationship. Learn about peace orders. See a brochure on protective orders.
Before the court can grant a final protective order, you must prove that the other person committed an act of abuse. Get help. Acts of abuse include:
File a Petition for Protection from Domestic Violence, or form CC-DC-DV-001. Attach a form called the Addendum-Description of Respondent, or form CC-DC-DV-001A. Law enforcement uses this Addendum when serving paperwork on the other person. Find the forms online. Or, ask a court clerk or court commissioner for forms.
When you file court documents to open a case, law enforcement must give copies of those documents – which include your contact information – to the other person. If you’re concerned about your safety because disclosing your address puts you at risk of further harm, ask the court to keep your contact information private. Use the form called Request to Withhold Address, or form CC-DC-DV-026. There is also a more permanent way to keep your address private on all documents called Safe-At-Home. Learn more at mdcourts.gov/addressprivacy.
File your papers in a courthouse when they are open. If you have a current custody or divorce case with the other person, consider filing in the same courthouse where that case was heard. Courts are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. most weekdays. If courts are closed, find a District Court Commissioner’s Office. Keep in mind that office ONLY accepts protective order petitions when courts are closed.
House Bill 296 (Ch. 334)/Senate Bill 280 (Ch.335)
Temporary Protective Orders - Electronic Filing and Video Conferencing Hearing
EFFECTIVE 10.01.2022
Authorizes a petitioner to file electronically a petition for a temporary protective order with a court from:
A court that receives a petition filed electronically shall hold a hearing through the use of video conferencing on either the same business day if the petition is filed during regular court hours and the court is open or the next business day the court is open if the petition is not filed during regular court hours.
These advocacy groups may access the necessary filing information here ( Authorization Required)
*If you need access to this page, please contact the clerk’s office
If you filed your petition with a commissioner when court is closed, you will have an immediate interim hearing where you will explain the events and behaviors that you believe were abusive. If the commissioner finds that your relationship qualifies and the abuse occurred, they will issue an interim protective order which lasts about two days. Your papers will include a date and time for a temporary hearing in court. At this hearing, you explain what happened to a judge. If you filed your petition during court hours with a clerk of the court, this will be your first immediate hearing. If a judge determines your relationship qualifies and abuse occurred, they will issue a temporary order which lasts for seven days, unless the court extends it.
Keep in contact with the court as it schedules your final hearing. Both individuals may be at this formal hearing and offer testimony and evidence.
Orders granted at the beginning of your case (interim or temporary orders) provide short-term safeguards for a few days or weeks. The court can order the other person to:
Your order might also address temporary child custody, possession of a pet, safeguards at child-care providers, and possession of firearms.
Orders granted at the end of your case (final protective orders) provide safeguards for up to a year. The court can order those safeguards listed above, plus the following additional provisions:
You are identified on those papers as the Respondent. You are not being arrested or charged with a crime. Carefully read the order which explains how much contact, if any, you may have with the Petitioner. The order will include a hearing date. This is not a criminal case, so you are not entitled to a public defender. The judge will ask whether you want to agree (or consent) to the order. You may also challenge (or contest) the order. Protective orders have serious consequences. Consider speaking with a lawyer.
The court may limit access to case records under certain circumstance. Read more about how to ask the court to keep information private.
It’s an automated notification system. Register your protective order case with VPO to receive notifications about whether the order has been served, expired, or dismissed. Read more about Maryland VPO. Register a protective order case with VPO. Read more about VINE.
It’s a crime to violate certain conditions of a protective order, such as contacting, harassing, or abusing someone. File criminal charges at a commissioner’s office or call police, who may arrest someone who violates an order. If found guilty, they face up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
Another option when someone disobeys a court order is called contempt. File for contempt if a Respondent violates ANY provision of the protective order. Submit a Petition for Contempt (Violation of Protective Order) or form CC-DC-DV-007 and ask for a hearing. There is no specific penalty if the court finds someone in contempt, but a judge may order whatever is necessary to enforce a protective order. This may include jail time.
As long as a protective order hasn’t expired, you can ask the court to modify or change it. That includes asking to rescind or extend it. Complete a Petition to Modify/Rescind/Extend (form CC-DC-DV-006). The clerk will notify the Respondent and schedule a hearing within 30 days. There are specific rules about notification and extending a protective order. Consider talking with a lawyer.
