The
Maryland Judiciary is dedicated to providing access to protection from domestic
violence. Both the circuit courts and District Court can address domestic
violence issues. When the courts are closed, you may file for a peace or protective order with a District Court Commissioner. A commissioner is available 24 hours, 7 days per week.
The monthly public reports provide static data generated from a statewide database of protective and peace orders issued anywhere in the state and include statistics on petitioner/respondent demographics, grounds for granted orders, reasons for denied and dismissed petitions, and other data. The monthly public reports are run on the first day of each month and provide a snapshot of data for the previous month. (For example, the October 2009 monthly public report is run on November 1 and includes information from October 1 through October 31.) Data may change as cases are dismissed, appealed or otherwise modified, however, the public reports only reflect static information (snapshot) for a given month.
Peace and Protective Orders Brochure
Órdenes de Paz y de Protección (Spanish version)
Domestic Violence/Protective Order Forms
Other Helpful Links:
- People's Law Library
- Pro Se Assistance Projects in the Circuit Courts
- Maryland Safe At Home Address Confidentiality Program
- Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
- Women's Law Center of Maryland
- House of Ruth