Protective Orders

A protective order is a legal order issued by a state court that requires one person to stop harming and/or contacting another. Each state may have several types of protective orders—such as civil protective orders, criminal protective orders or restraining orders— and they may have different names. (For example, Pennsylvania has “protection from abuse” orders). Some protective orders are specific to domestic and intrafamilial violence, while others are broader, covering stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and other types of abuse.

Civil protection orders do not require that the perpetrator be charged or convicted; as long as the behavior, the relationship between the parties, and the harm or threat to the victim come within the legal requirements, the court can issue an order. Violations of the civil protective order are typically criminal offenses. A protective order is one possible tool a victim can use to help stop the domestic abuse and/or stalking and enhance their safety. However, they are not effective in every case and may in fact escalate the abusive or stalking behavior in some cases. Speak with an attorney or your county’s court advocate to help you understand the risks and benefits of seeking a protection order.

Petition for a New Protective Order

· Petition for New Protector Order

· Protective Order Addendum (must be included with Petition)

Once you’ve completed the Petition for a Protective Order, it can be turned in at the District Court Commissioner’s or Clerk’s office. Please refer to the hours of operation for the county in which you are filing.

NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO DOWNLOAD PDF FILES TO A COMPUTER IN ORDER TO FILL THEM OUT ELECTRONICALLY. MAKE SURE YOU RESAVE THE FILE WITH YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE PRINTING.

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Petition for Modification/Extension of an Existing Protective Order

· Petition for Modification/Extension of an Existing Protective Order

· Protective Order Addendum (must be included with Petition)

Once you’ve completed the Petition for Modification/Extension of a Protective Order it can be turned in at the District Court Commissioner’s or Clerk’s office. Please refer to the hours of operation for the county in which you are filing.

NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO DOWNLOAD PDF FILES TO A COMPUTER IN ORDER TO FILL THEM OUT ELECTRONICALLY. MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE FILE WITH YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE PRINTING.

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Request for Legal Services Intake (Protective Order)

SMCFA provides legal representation for a Final Protective Order. Please complete the Legal Services Intake and either email or hand it directly to your county’s court advocate.

Typically, hearings for Final Protective Orders are scheduled seven (7) days after a Temporary Protective has been issued. This gives law enforcement time to serve the respondent and for you to prepare for the hearing. Since time is limited, please submit your request for legal services as soon as possible.

*Submission of an intake for legal services does not guarantee legal representation. Please complete the intake in its entirety including your phone number and email address so that we can contact you.

· Request for Legal Services (Protective Order)

NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO DOWNLOAD PDF FILES TO A COMPUTER IN ORDER TO FILL THEM OUT ELECTRONICALLY. MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE FILE WITH YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE EMAILING OR PRINTING.

IF YOU ARE EMAILING YOUR INTAKE, PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, ADDRESSES, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR ANY OTHER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE SHARING BY EMAIL. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE GATHERED AT A LATER DATE. WE WILL NEED A PHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT YOU.

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Request for Legal Services Intake (Family Law)

SMCFA provides legal representation for Family Law to include divorce and custody to eligible residents of St. Mary's County. Please complete the Family Law Legal Services Intake and either email or hand it to the St. Mary's County court advocate.

· Request for Legal Services (Family Law)

NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO DOWNLOAD PDF FILES TO A COMPUTER IN ORDER TO FILL THEM OUT ELECTRONICALLY. MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE FILE WITH YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE EMAILING OR PRINTING.