Elkton's Premier Domestic Violence & Abuse Attorney 

What can the courts do?

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Depending on your relationship to the alleged abuser, there are two types of civil relief: a protective order and a peace order. Protective orders are the main vehicle of civil relief for victims of domestic violence.

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Protective Orders in Cecil & Harford Counties in Maryland

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What are protective orders?

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Protective orders are civil orders issued by a judge that orders one person to refrain from committing certain acts against others.

 

• Who can file for protective orders? You are eligible for a protective order if you and the alleged abuser:​​​

  • Are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

  • Are in a parent-child, or stepparent-stepchild relationship, and have resided together for at least 90 days during the past year.

  • Are in a caretaker-vulnerable adult relationship.

  • Are the parents of a child together.

  • Have lived together in an intimate relationship for at least 90 days during the past year.

  • Are current or former spouses.

 

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Types of Protective Orders

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In an interim or temporary protective order, the judge can order that the abuser:

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• Stop abusing you.

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• Stay away from you and not try to contact you or harass you at your home, school, job, or the place where you may be staying; stay away from your child’s school, and from your family members’ homes.

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• Stay out of your house.

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• Leave the home where the two of you live, if you are married to the abuser, AND you were living with your abuser at the time of the abuse.

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• Leave the home if you are not married to the abuser, but were living with the abuser at the time of the abuse, AND your name is on the lease or deed for the house, OR you lived with the abuser for at least 90 days within the past year.

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• The judge can also give you temporary custody of any children that you have with the abuser.

 

In a final protective order, a judge can order any of the above, and can also:

 

• Establish temporary visitation with children.
   

• Award emergency family maintenance.
   

• Award use and possession of the jointly titled car.
   

• Order counseling.
   

• Order the abuser to surrender all firearms.
   

• Order the abuser to pay filing fees and court costs.
   

Peace Orders in Cecil & Harford Counties in Maryland

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What are peace orders?

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A peace order is a form of legal protection for anyone who is experiencing problems with another individual, including someone in a dating relationship, a neighbor, a stranger, or anyone else. The peace order enables an individual who wishes to be left alone to ask the court for an order requiring that the other person stay away and refrain from any contact.

 

A peace order allows any person who has been subjected to abuse, harassment, stalking, trespass, or malicious destruction of property to seek relief from the court. Unlike protective orders, the nature of the relationship between the parties is not a factor when petitioning the court for a peace order. If an individual is entitled to relief in a protective order hearing, they are not entitled to seek relief under the Peace Order Act.

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How can a peace order help me?

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If you file for a peace order, you can ask the judge for certain kinds of help:

 

Types of Peace Orders

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In an interim or temporary peace order, the judge can order that the abuser:

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• Stop abusing you.

 

• Stay away from you and not to try to contact you or harass you at your home, school, job, or the place where you may be staying.

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In a final peace order, a judge can order any of the above, and can also:

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• ​Order counseling.

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• Order mediation.

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• Order the abuser to pay filing fees and court costs.