A protective order is typically established in a situation involving domestic violence to protect the petitioner from the respondent. In Maryland, a Protective Order is a court order stating that one person must refrain from committing certain acts against another person or others. A “final” protective order is issued after both the accused and the…
Often, after a final protective order is entered, the parties may attempt to reconcile their broken relationship. Parties may enter into informal agreements that are directly contrary to “stay away” or “no contact” provisions in their restraining order. If for some reason the reconciliation does not work, and the parties find themselves at odds again,…
There are many ways to lose your job—whether through your own actions on the job or situations out of your control such as downsizing—but you may also potentially jeopardize your job because of allegations, filings, or actions that occur in a domestic proceeding, such as a divorce or a protective order hearing. If you have…
Bigamy occurs when one spouse is still legally married at the time they enter into a subsequent marriage with another individual. Whether done intentionally or accidentally, bigamy cases can result in serious consequences for your marriage and may even result in a felony conviction and significant jail time. If your Maryland spouse committed bigamy, it…
In order to deflect attention away from their own wrongdoing, many abusers will file false criminal charges in Maryland. By filing false criminal charges, the abuser hopes to minimize his or her own abusive behavior. Often, the abuser is desperate to maintain control over the victim and will use the threat of criminal prosecution to…