Can I keep the public from seeing 
information about me in a peace 
or protective order case? 

Just as courtrooms are open to the 
public, the public has a right to find 
out information about court cases. 
However, in some situati ons, you 
can request that the public not 
see information about a peace or 
protective order case that involves you. 
Peace and protective orders are civil 
orders that a judge issues to order 
one person not to act in certain ways 
toward someone else. 

When can I ask that the 
court limit public access to 
the case record? 
When three (3) years have passed from 
the time the court denied or dismissed 
the peace or protective order 
orSooner than three (3) years if you also 
file a General Waiver and Release (form 
CC-DC 77). Consider speaking to a 
lawyer before waiving any legal rights 
you may have. 
If you consented to entry of the 
order, you must wait until the order 
has expired. 

How do I ask the court to limit public access to the case record? 
Follow these steps: 
1. Complete the correct form. A..ach the General Waiver and Release (form CC-DC 77) if necessary. 
• For a peace order case — use form CC-DC PO-16 to ask the court to limit public access to a record. 
• For a protecti ve order case — use form CC-DC DV-21 to ask the court to limit public access to a record. 
2. File the form (and the waiver/release, if necessary) by mail or in person with the District or Circuit Court that 
heard your protec..ve or peace order case. 
3. Send a copy of everything you filed with the court to any other par..es involved in the case. 
If the petitioner’s address is confidential, file a "Motion for Appropriate Relief” asking the court to send 
your request to the petitioner. 
4. The court will hold a hearing and will consider any objections the petitioner may have. 
5. If the court decides you are eligible based on the requirements listed in the first section of this brochure, the 
court will grant your request. 

If the order was not entered by consent or denied or dismissed, you may file a mo..on to ask the court to limit public 
inspec..on of the court record. If a judge grants your motion, the court may remove the records from public access. 
See the "Motion” section of the brochure, Can I Keep the Public from Seeing Information about Me in a Court Case? 
If you were the defendant in a criminal case about this same domestic violence matter, see the brochure Expungement of 
Criminal Records. Through expungement, you may be able to limit further what the public can see about you in court records. 

Can I request that the court limit public access to the case record? 

Yes, if the case was denied or dismissed and all four (4) of these statements apply to you: 
1. The respondent has not been found guilty of a crime. 
• Described in Courts & Judicial Proceedings §3-1503(a) against the petitioner. 
[Peace order case] 
• Arising from abuse against the petitioner. [Protective order case] 
2. No pending interim or temporary peace or protective order against the respondent in a 
proceeding between the same parties. 
3. No pending criminal charges against the respondent in a proceeding between the same parties. 
• Arising from an alleged act described in Court & Judicial Proceedings §3-1503(a). 
[Peace order case] 
• Arising from abuse against the petitioner. [Protective order case] 
4. No other final peace or protective order has been previously issued against the respondent 
in a case involving the petitioner. 

Yes, if the order is expired AND was entered by consent and all six (6) of these 
statements apply to you: 

1. The petitioner consents or agrees to the shielding. 
2. The respondent did not violate the order during its term. 
3. The respondent has not been found guilty of a crime against the petitioner. 
• Arising from an act described in Courts & Judicial Proceedings §3-1503(a). [Peace order case] 
• Arising from abuse against the petitioner. [Protective order case] 
4. No pending interim or temporary peace or protective order against the respondent. 
5. No pending criminal charges against respondent. 
• An alleged act described in Courts & Judicial Proceedings §3-1503(a). [Peace order case]
• Abuse against an individual. [Protective order case] 
in a case involving this petitioner. 
6. No other final peace or protective order has been previously issued against the respondent in a case involving this petitioner.

Note that a consent order means that all parties agreed the order should issue. 

For more information 

To find out more, see Maryland Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings,
§ 3-1510; Maryland Code, Family Law § 4-512; and Maryland Rule 16-1009. 

Court forms are available on the Maryland Judiciary’s website 
at www.mdcourts.gov/courtforms. 

Read Maryland’s laws at www.mdcourts.gov/lawlib/researchtools/ 
sourcesmdlaw.html. 

Visit the People’s Law Library of Maryland, an online legal resource, 
at www.peoples-law.org. 

Visit a public law library. Location information and hours are 
available at www.mdcourts.gov/lawlib. 

Visit or call the Clerk’s Office of the court that heard your case. 

MARYLANDACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION 
www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc410.260.1258

This brochure was created by the Maryland Access to Justice Commission with the 
help of the Maryland Judiciary’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs 10/14.