Maryland Peace Order
Peace Orders are a form of legal protection, designed to protect individuals from unwanted contact from others. The person that requested the peace order may be a neighbor, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone else. The order will usually require the person to stay away and refrain from any form of contact. However, there are some distinctions regarding peace orders to be aware of, which we’ll review carefully in this article.
What is a Peace Order?
Peace orders provide relief to people who are having issues with a neighbor, a coworker, or a stranger. A judge orders the offending individual to refrain from threatening, bothering, and contacting the person who the peace order is granted to. They will be required to stay away from their home, job, and/or school as well.
To receive a peace order, you must prove that one of the following occurred in the last 30 days and is likely to occur again:
- Stalking
- Harassment
- False imprisonment
- Rape or sexual offense
- Trespassing
- Act that causes serious bodily harm
- Act that causes someone to be fear imminent bodily harm
- Assault
- Malicious destruction of property
A final peace order stays in effect for at least 6 months, and may be extended for up to 6 months after its expiration. The district court in your county of residence has jurisdiction over peace orders.
What is a Protective Order?
In some cases, you may need to file a protective order, rather than a peace order. You should file a protective order if:
- The individual you are seeking protection from is a current or former spouse
- The individual you are seeking protection from is related to you by blood or adoption
- You have children with the individual in question
- You have lived with the individual in question in an intimate relationship for at least 90 days of the past year
- You are a vulnerable adult
- You have a sexual relationship with the individual in question without one year before filing the petition.
The district and circuit courts in your county of residence have jurisdiction over protective orders.
No one should have to live in fear. If you’re considering filing for a peace or a protective order, talk to Akman & Associates, LLC, about the best way to proceed.