Gaithersburg, MD asked in Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Domestic Violence and Libel & Slander for Maryland

Q: If someone filed a peace order with false statements/allegations, what should the other party do to respond?

I got served with a peace order in the evening hours of Friday July 12th. On the peace order there was already a hearing for this morning Monday July 15th at 9am at the Silver Spring, MD court house. I live in Gaithersburg and since I had got served late Friday I did not have time to talk or reach out about a lawyer as I know the statements made in the peace order are FALSE. I couldn't make it to the hearing this morning although there is another on on July 22nd so I am sure I can get the evidence and all that I need to face this issue.

1 Lawyer Answer

A: Go to court and represent your defense. Gather your information and organize your reasoning for the false statements. However, it is important to keep in mind that the court will be weighing the evidence in the light most favorable to the person requesting the peace order. This means that your testimony that their statements are false may not alone be enough. It is also not a defense that the person did something to you that you believe is equally deserving of a peace order. The court will just tell you that you should file your own peace order. You will need to have information, documentation, etc. that concretely shows that what they are saying is false. You do not need a lawyer to attend a peace order hearing but it is always advisable to seek legal counsel that can help you to fully understand the potential ramifications of a peace order.

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