A Maryland Petition for Peace Order is a legal document filed in Maryland Circuit Court that requests protection from someone who is threatening harm. There are two types of Maryland Petition for Peace Order: a Temporary Peace Order, and a Final Peace Order. A Temporary Peace Order is a court order that is issued without a full hearing. It is issued to protect someone from harm or harassment, and it can last up to seven days. A Final Peace Order is a longer-term court order that is issued after a full hearing. It can last up to six months, and it can prohibit the person from contacting, following, harassing, threatening, or stalking the petitioner. It can also require the respondent to stay away from the petitioner’s home, workplace, or school. In order to receive a Maryland Petition for Peace Order, the petitioner must prove that they are in imminent fear of serious bodily harm or that they have suffered from harassment, assault, stalking, or another crime. The petitioner must also prove that the respondent committed the acts they are alleging. The court will review the petition and decide whether to issue the order. If the court issues the order, it will be served to the respondent, and it will be in effect until the hearing date. If the respondent violates the order, they can be found in contempt of court and face criminal charges.