Maryland Family Law Code

While the Family Law sections of the Maryland code mostly focus on civil matters such as marriage, divorce and child support, there are a host of laws that carry criminal consequences upon violation. Most of these laws are located in Title 4 and Title 5 of the Family Law Code, which govern spouses and children respectively. The spouses title has a specific subsection that deals with domestic violence, and within that subsection are the laws that govern protective orders and violations of those protective orders. A protective order is Maryland’s version of a restraining order. Protective orders are similar to peace orders with the main distinction being that there must be some sort of relationship between the two parties. For example, the petitioner must assert that he or she is a current or former spouse of the respondent, a blood relative or that the parties have a shared child. Petitioners are also eligible to file for a protective order against anyone with whom they have lived with or had a sexual relationship with during the past year. If there is no relationship, then a peace order will need to be filed if a person requests relief. One exception to this rule is that a vulnerable adult can file a protective order against a person he or she does not have a relationship with. This would apply to care providers that are alleged to have committed an act of abuse.

Protective orders are a powerful tool to obtain the court’s assistance, but there is a high potential for abuse. Once a protective order is in place a respondent may temporarily lose possession of his or her home and custody of children. A respondent may also face the possibility of arrest if he or she is alleged to have violated a protective order. It is for this reason that a protective order or peace order should be handled by a criminal defense lawyer with trial experience. All protective orders state that a violation may result in criminal prosecution and potential imprisonment, and under Maryland law police officers are required to make an arrest if they have probable cause to believe there has been a violation and District Court Commissioners and even judges have been known to hold defendants without bail in cases. Benjamin Herbst is an experienced Maryland protective order lawyer who has helped hundreds of clients at all stages of the case from bail review to trial. He is available 7 days a week to discuss your matter at 410-207-2598.

The Family Law Code is also home to numerous laws regarding the protection of children, though the main laws governing child abuse crimes are located in the criminal law section of the Maryland Code. Crimes against children located within the Family Law sections include preventing or interfering with the making of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, which is a misdemeanor that carries up to 5 years in prison. Confining an unattended child is a more common family law criminal offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail. The remaining crimes in the Family Law sections include kidnapping by a relative, which depending on the circumstances has a penalty ranging from 30 days in jail to 5 years in prison. The charges become more severe if the defendant is accused of taking the child out of state, and the offense becomes a felony if the child is taken outside of the country.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"I am writing this letter to thank you for doing such a great job in my case. If it were not for what you did I would still be in jail right now. My family and I are very grateful I have a second chance at life now, and if it wouldn't be like this if you were not so good at what you do. Thank you again Benjamin!" T.S.
★★★★★
"I want to commend you on the excellent representation that you provided on my son's case case. I truly appreciate everything you have done. You are a dedicated, very professional, and caring individual. We both wish you the utmost success in your legal career and future endeavors." Raquel and Joseph M.
★★★★★
"Thank you for all the time and effort that you put into defending my case. You were willing to fight for me when nobody else would believe my story, and you did not back down from the prosecutor. Another lawyer would have urged me to plead guilty, but you were willing to fight for me, and in the end justice was served. I appreciate everything you did and wish you all the best." Fred D.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Office Phone Number