Restraining Orders

In some cases, you or the abuser can ask the court to hide (shield) the records so they are not public.

Either of you can ask the judge to shield the records if:

• the judge said no to a protective order or dismissed it at any stage (interim, temporary, or final); or
• the abuser agreed to the protective order. This is called a “consent order.” If this happened, the request to shield must be made after the protective order has ended.¹

The person asking to shield the records must request it in writing.¹ If it has been less than three years since the protective order was denied, dismissed, or agreed to, they must also sign a form called a “general waiver and release.” This means they give up the right to file a lawsuit related to the protective order case.²

¹ Md. Code, Family Law, § 4-512(b), (e)(1)(i)
² Md. Code, Family Law, § 4-512(c)