Rule 9-307.Final protective orders
Last amended July 1, 2015 · Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
Full Text of Rule 9-307
Amendment History
Maryland publishes each rule’s adoption and amendment record as a bracketed “Credits” note beneath the rule, giving the date of each Rules Order and the date it took effect. It is reproduced verbatim below.
[Adopted March 2, 2015, eff. July 1, 2015.]
Plain-English Summary
The third and longest-lasting tier. A final protective order may be issued only by a judge, and its content, duration and available relief are governed by the Family Law Article.
Read alongside Rules 9-304 and 9-305, the pattern is complete: a commissioner may issue only an interim order, and a judge issues the temporary and the final ones. The order that carries real and lasting consequences is a judge's alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues a final protective order in Maryland?
Only a judge.
What relief can a final protective order give?
The rule leaves that to the Family Law Article, which governs the content and duration of final protective orders.
Can I change or extend a final protective order?
Rule 9-308 provides for modification, rescission and extension on motion, decided by a judge.