<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="4-504" title_number="4" title_name="Spouses" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Domestic Violence">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A petitioner may seek relief from abuse by filing with a court, or with a commissioner under the circumstances specified in § 4–504.1(a) of this subtitle, a petition that alleges abuse of any person eligible for relief by the respondent.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A petition may be filed under this subtitle if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the abuse is alleged to have occurred in the State; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the person eligible for relief is a resident of the State, regardless of whether the abuse is alleged to have occurred in the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The petition shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>be under oath; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>include any information known to the petitioner of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the nature and extent of the abuse for which the relief is being sought, including information known to the petitioner concerning previous injury resulting from abuse by the respondent;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>each previous action between the parties in any court;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>each pending action between the parties in any court;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the whereabouts of the respondent, if known;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>if financial relief is requested, information known to the petitioner regarding the financial resources of the respondent; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>in a case of alleged child abuse or alleged abuse of a vulnerable adult, the whereabouts of the child or vulnerable adult and any other information relating to the abuse of the child or vulnerable adult.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the petition states that disclosure of the address of a person eligible for relief would risk further abuse of a person eligible for relief, or reveal the confidential address of a shelter for domestic violence victims, that address may be omitted from all documents filed with a commissioner or filed with, or transferred to, a court. If disclosure is necessary to determine jurisdiction or consider any venue issue, it shall be made orally and in camera and may not be disclosed to the respondent.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing fee or costs for the issuance or service of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an interim protective order;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a temporary protective order;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a final protective order; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>a witness subpoena.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a petitioner has requested notification of the service of a protective order, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>notify the petitioner of the service on the respondent of an interim or a temporary protective order within one hour after a law enforcement officer electronically notifies the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services of the service; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>notify the petitioner of the service on the respondent of a final protective order within one hour after knowledge of service of the order on the respondent.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall develop a notification request form and procedures for notification under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The court clerk or Commissioner shall provide the notification request form to a petitioner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
