Maryland Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer: Protective Order Violations

Serving Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bethesda and all of Maryland

Protective orders serve an extremely important purpose, but they are unfortunately subject to abuse. In Maryland, courts have the authority to issue a protective order against an individual accused of domestic violence and related offenses. Because protective orders are very easy for an alleged victim to obtain, some people misuse them in an attempt to gain leverage in a divorce, child custody, or other family law matter. Others seek protective orders simply out of spite or jealousy when an intimate relationship deteriorates.

If a court has issued a protective order against you, you have thirty days to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court. If you have been charged with violating a protective order, it’s important to act quickly in your defense. These cases tend to move swiftly, and it’s easy to get swept up in a situation in which you feel like you have little or no control.

At the Law Office of Leon Geller, we help people who have been accused of domestic violence and/or served with a request for a protective order. We know how much is riding on the outcome of your case, and we will work with you to ensure you receive a fair and just result.

Who Can Get a Protective Order?

In Maryland, protective orders and peace orders are very similar. They are both types of restraining orders issued against an individual accused of threatening, harassing, harming, or stalking someone else.

Protective orders are reserved for people in a family or intimate relationship with each other. To obtain a protective order in Maryland, the alleged victim must be related to the claimed abuser in one of the following ways:

• A current or former spouse
• Cohabitation with the alleged abuser in an intimate relationship
• A blood relative or related by marriage or adoption
• The victim shares a child with the alleged abuser.

The Protective Order Process

Many people are shocked to learn a court has issued a protective order against them. This is because the law allows an alleged victim to obtain a temporary protective order without first notifying the person accused of being abusive. Temporary protective orders are conducted in an ex prate proceeding, which means the respondent/defendant doesn’t have to be present during the initial hearing. After the court issues a temporary protective order, the respondent/defendant has just seven days to prepare for the final hearing in which the court will decide whether to convert the temporary order to a permanent one. Once the court issues a permanent protective order, it can stay in place up to one year.

If you fail to act quickly to protect your rights, you could end up losing them. Call us as soon as you are notified that a protective order has been issued against you, or that you have allegedly violated an existing protective order.

Contact a Maryland Protective Order Attorney Today

Protective orders can have serious consequences for the accused, especially in cases where the alleged victim and the person accused of violence or abuse are going through a divorce. If you have children, the protective order can impact your custody and visitation rights.

At the Law Office of Leon Geller, we take every protective order violation case just as seriously as we do other criminal cases. Because a protective order can be so personally devastating, it’s important to work with an attorney who will handle your case with the care and dedication you deserve. Call us today at 301-309-8001 to get the answers and reassurance you need. We are available for you 24/7.