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Legal Information: Maryland

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
November 27, 2023

Does it cost anything to register my protective order?

Under federal law, which applies to all states, U.S. states and territories that receive certain federal funding cannot charge you a fee to register, obtain or serve a protection order that is related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.1 All 50 states, U.S. territories, and some tribes receive this funding. If you believe you are wrongly being charged a fee, you can contact the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit at 800-903-0111, ext. 2 for assistance.

1 34 U.S.C. §§ 10450(a); 10461(c)(1); see also MD ST § 7-202(II)(C), (III)(B)(1)(G)

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