ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Seeking a Protective Order | Haskell & Dyer
Protection Can Start the Same Day You File. We Help You File Right.
If you are dealing with abuse, threats, or harassment, we help you petition for a protective order, prepare your evidence, and stand with you at the hearing so the court understands the danger you are in.
If You Are in Immediate Danger
Call 911 first.
A protective order is a legal step, not an emergency response. If you are in danger right now, call 911. Once you are safe, we can help you petition for a protective order and stand with you through the process. Our line is open 24/7 at 240-687-0179.
How the Process Works
From Petition to Final Hearing
A protective order usually moves in two stages. We are with you for both.
Step One
Filing the Petition
You file a petition that describes what happened and the protection you need. A judge can grant a temporary order quickly, sometimes the same day, to keep you safe until the full hearing. We help you file it correctly and completely.
Step Two
The Final Hearing
At the final hearing, the court hears both sides and decides whether to grant a longer order. This is where evidence matters most. We prepare your testimony and your proof, and we stand with you in the courtroom.
What We Help With
The Pieces of Seeking Protection
Getting an order is about more than filling out a form. These are the parts we handle with you.
Filing the petition
Gathering your evidence
Getting a temporary order
Preparing for the hearing
What the order can require
Thinking through your safety
What an Order Can Do
The Protection a Court Can Order
A protective order can do real things to keep distance between you and the person harming you.
Stay Away
Order them to keep away from you
No Contact
Bar calls, texts, and messages
Your Home
Address where you live and stay
Your Family
Cover children and the household
How We Stand With You
We move quickly, build your case carefully, and make sure you are not alone in that courtroom.
We Move Fast
These cases are time-sensitive. We help you file right away and get a temporary order in place to keep you safe.
We Build Your Proof
Messages, photos, records, and witnesses. We help you gather and organize what the court needs to see.
We Stand With You
You do not face the hearing or the other side alone. We speak for you and make your case clearly.
We Plan Ahead
We think past the hearing: enforcement if the order is broken, and the next steps to keep you protected.
Common Questions
Seeking Protection, Answered
What is a protective order in Maryland?
It is a court order that tells someone to stop abusing, threatening, or contacting you, and it can order them to stay away from your home, work, or school. Protective orders are for people in certain close or family relationships. If the person is a neighbor, coworker, or acquaintance, the right tool is a peace order instead, and we handle those too.
Who can ask for a protective order?
Maryland limits protective orders to people in defined relationships, such as a spouse or former spouse, someone you live with or have lived with in an intimate way, a relative, or a co-parent. The exact list matters, so we confirm whether you qualify for a protective order or whether a peace order fits your situation. Either way, there is a path to protection.
What do I have to prove at the hearing?
At the final hearing, you generally need to show that the abuse happened and that you need protection, judged by what is more likely than not. That is a lower bar than a criminal case. Clear evidence helps a lot, which is why we spend time organizing your messages, records, photos, and witnesses before you ever walk in.
How fast can I get protection?
Often quickly. A judge can issue a temporary order soon after you file, sometimes the same day, to hold things in place until the final hearing a short time later. Timeframes vary by court and situation, so we move fast and tell you what to expect at each step rather than leaving you guessing.
What happens if they violate the order?
Violating a protective order is a crime. If it happens, call the police, and the person can be arrested and charged separately from the order itself. Keep a record of every violation. We can help you enforce the order and pursue the consequences so the protection actually holds.
Let's Get You Protected. Reach Out Today.
You do not have to handle this alone. We will help you petition for protection, prepare your case, and stand with you at the hearing. Reach out and we will move quickly.
Available 24/7 for emergencies: 240-687-0179