Protective and Peace Orders
Howard and Montgomery County Family Law Attorneys Protecting Clients and Children from Domestic Violence
Help for clients in Bethesda, Rockville, Fulton and Columbia, and beyond
When you fear for your safety or the safety of your child, the lawyers at McCabe Russell, PA have the experience you need to protect your safety by demanding that the abuser be ordered to stop any intimidating or threating acts and keep a safe distance away. From our offices in Bethesda, Rockville, Fulton and Columbia, our Howard and Montgomery county child protection attorneys fight for abuse victims, especially in family relationships. We file the right legal documents with the appropriate court and represent you at the court hearing.
Your safety comes first. If someone is abusing you, you have the right to demand that any and every act of violence stop.
What are protective orders and peace orders?
Protective orders and peace orders are court orders that require that a defendant stay away from someone or multiple people indefinitely or for specific periods of time. In addition to an order to stay away from the filer, the protective order can include custody of your children and require the abuser to pay some financial support. The abuser can be ordered to surrender his/her firearms. Defendants who are subject to the order can be imprisoned if they violate the order.
The main difference between a protective order and a peace order is that a protective order is for defendants who have a family or close personal connection with the person being abused, while peace orders are more for the general public.
A protective order can be filed against:
- A current or former spouse
- A person (a cohabitant) with whom you were intimate (had a sexual relationship with) for 90 days or more during the one-year time frame before the protective order request is filed
- A relative through marriage, blood or adoption
- The other parent of your child
Peace orders can be filed by anyone who is not eligible for a protective order against an abuser (who is 18 years of age or older when the abuse occurred) if the abuser is:
- A neighbor
- Someone with whom you work
- An acquaintance
- A stranger
Parents, step-parents, children and step-children who lived with you or the majority-aged abuser for 90 days in the year prior to the peace order filing date can also request a peace order.
Our lawyers help abuse victims file for a temporary/interim order whenever abuse happens. Temporary/interim protective and peace orders can be filed at any time of night or day. If the court is closed, the filing can be through the district court commissioners’ offices.
What types of abuse are covered by protective and peace orders?
Protective and peace orders cover many of the same types of abuse, though there are some differences. Both types of orders cover:
- Acts that cause serious bodily harm
- Acts that cause someone to be in fear of serious bodily injury
- Assault
- Rape or sexual assault
- False imprisonment
- Stalking
Peace orders also cover harassment, trespassing and malicious destruction of property. There are other differences between the two types of orders that your lawyer can explain.
Get immediate help from a tough Howard and Montgomery County protective and peace order attorney today
Nobody has the right to abuse you, threaten you or make you fear for your safety. Your child has the same right to safety too. At McCabe Russell, PA, our Howard and Montgomery County child protection attorneys have earned the respect to of clients and lawyers alike for our ability to bring and defend abuse cases. Get help from abuse by calling us at 443-812-1435 or by filling out our contact form to schedule an appointment at one of our offices in Bethesda, Rockville, Fulton or Columbia.