Family Law - Temporary and Final Protective Orders - Duration, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                          Ch. 791

Chapter 791

                   (House Bill 497)

AN ACT concerning

Family Law – Temporary and Final Protective Orders – Duration and Relief

FOR the purpose of extending altering the time period during which a temporary protective
         order is effective after service of the order; extending altering the time period for
         during which a final protective order hearing is required to be held after service of
         the temporary protective order; providing that a final protective order may order the
         respondent to pay to a person eligible for relief certain losses or expenses incurred
         as a result of abuse; providing that a certain monetary award does not preclude a
         petitioner from bringing a subsequent claim for certain losses or expenses; and
         generally relating to temporary and final protective orders.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
         Article – Family Law
         Section 4–505(a)(1)(i) and 4–506(a)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
         Article – Family Law
         Section 4–505(c) and 4–506(b)(1) and (d)(13) and (14)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

BY adding to
         Article – Family Law
         Section 4–506(d)(14) and (l)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

                   Article – Family Law

4–505.

         (a) (1) (i) If, after a hearing on a petition, whether ex parte or otherwise, a
judge finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person eligible for relief has
been abused, the judge may enter a temporary protective order to protect any person
eligible for relief from abuse.

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Ch. 791  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

         (c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the temporary
protective order shall be effective for not more than [7] 14 days after service ISSUANCE of
the order.

                  (2) The judge may extend the temporary protective order as needed, but
not to exceed 6 months, to effectuate service of the order where necessary to provide
protection or for other good cause.

                  (3) If the court is closed on the day on which the temporary protective order
is due to expire, the temporary protective order shall be effective until the second day on
which the court is open, by which time the court shall hold a final protective order hearing.

4–506.

         (a) A respondent under § 4–505 of this subtitle shall have an opportunity to be
heard on the question of whether the judge should issue a final protective order.

         (b) (1) (i) The temporary protective order shall state the date and time of
the final protective order hearing.

                           (ii) Except as provided in § 4–505(c) of this subtitle, or unless
continued for good cause, the final protective order hearing shall be held no later than [7]
14 days after the temporary protective order is served on the respondent ISSUED.

(d) The final protective order may include any or all of the following relief:

                  (13) award temporary possession of any pet of the person eligible for relief
or the respondent; [or]

                (14) ORDER THE RESPONDENT TO PAY TO A PERSON ELIGIBLE FOR
RELIEF, BY A DATE FIXED BY THE COURT, ANY LOSSES OR EXPENSES INCURRED AS
A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ABUSE, INCLUDING:

         (I) MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

COSTS;

         (II) COSTS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED PROPERTY;

         (III) FOOD, TEMPORARY SHELTER, OR RELOCATION COSTS;

         (IV) TRANSPORTATION COSTS;

         (V) FILING FEES AND COURT COSTS; AND

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WES MOORE, Governor  Ch. 791

                         (VI) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES; OR

                [(14)] (15) order any other relief that the judge determines is necessary to
protect a person eligible for relief from abuse.

        (L) A MONETARY AWARD UNDER SUBSECTION (D)(14) OF THIS SECTION

DOES NOT PRECLUDE A PETITIONER FROM BRINGING A SUBSEQUENT CLAIM FOR
ADDITIONAL LOSSES OR EXPENSES NOT AWARDED IN THE FINAL PROTECTIVE

ORDER.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, May 26, 2026.

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