Navigating the high-stakes world of civil protection orders requires more than just legal knowledge—it demands a trauma-informed approach and procedural precision. Protective & Peace Order Cases in Maryland: A Practice Manual is a comprehensive roadmap, authored by a team of expert Maryland attorneys, clinical professors, and advocacy directors.

Why This Manual Is Essential for Your Practice

• Trauma-Centered Lawyering: Go beyond the black-letter law with expert insights on how trauma impacts memory, demeanor, and narrative clarity. This manual provides essential guidance on interviewing survivors and preparing testimony to ensure your clients are ready for the rigors of public scrutiny and cross-examination.

• A Complete Procedural Lifecycle: Navigate every stage of a case with granular detail, from initiating a petition and understanding eligibility to managing interim, temporary, and final protective order hearings. You will find clear breakdowns of evidentiary standards, helping you distinguish between the "Reasonable Grounds" required for emergency relief and the "Preponderance of the Evidence" needed for final orders.

• The Complete Statutory Toolbox: Stay current with the latest 2025/2026 legislative changes, including the newly codified "best interest" custody factors and updated standards for Military Protection Orders. The manual also includes a library of official forms, such as Petitions for Protection, Addendums for Respondent Descriptions, and Requests to Withhold Address from public access.

• Peace Orders vs. Protective Orders: Expertly advise clients on which path to take. Learn to identify eligibility for those who do not qualify under the domestic violence statute, such as neighbors or coworkers, and master the specific qualifying acts unique to peace orders, like harassment, trespass, and malicious destruction of property.

• Custody, Support, and Post-Trial Strategy: Safeguard your client's future by mastering collateral matters like Emergency Family Maintenance and temporary physical or legal custody. This guide also provides the specialized knowledge required for post-judgment enforcement, record shielding, and navigating the critical differences between de novo circuit court appeals and Appellate Court reviews.

Equip yourself with the insights needed to challenge assumptions, avoid judgment, and provide elite advocacy for survivors.

To view the Table of Contents please click here.

Product Details

• Format: Paperback
• Authors: Krystle Acevedo-Howard, Sophia Barilone, Andrew C. Budzinski, Rachel Camp, Alexandra N. Comegys, Alexis L. Holiday, Faith Zellman Khan, Steffani L. Langston, Erica I. LeMon, Amy M. Norman, Samantha P. Rodier
• Pages: 144
• Publication Date: 2026