Restraining Orders

When you are done filling out the forms, the clerk will take your completed file to a judge for your ex parte hearing. This is a preliminary hearing that can grant you a petition for protection (a temporary protective order). At this hearing, the judge will read your petition for protection and may ask you why you want a final protective order and some additional questions.

If the judge grants a temporary protective order, the court clerk will give you a copy of the order. Review the order before you leave the courthouse to make sure that the information is correct. If something is wrong or missing, you may be able to ask the clerk to correct the order before you leave. The temporary order is good until you have your scheduled hearing for a final protective order. The judge will also set a date for your final hearing, which is usually within 7 days.¹

¹ MD Code, Fam. Law § 4-506(b)(1)(ii)