Extreme Risk Protective Orders
If you are worried about someone’s safety or mental health, especially if they have access to firearms, there are ways to help support and protect them. An Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) is a temporary safety tool to help prevent a loved one or family member from accessing a weapon during a time when they might cause harm to themselves or others. The goal is to keep everyone safe until the situation is improved.
- An ERPO is a civil court order that temporarily requires a person to
- surrender any firearms or ammunition to law enforcement and
- not purchase or possess firearms, rifles, shotguns, or ammunition.
Petitioner: The person requesting the ERPO. It may be a
- Spouse
- Cohabitant
- Relative
- Person with a child in common
- Current dating or intimate partner
- Current or former legal guardian
- Health Care Professional
- Law Enforcement
Respondent: The person the ERPO is filed against. This is the individual who may harm themselves or has threatened or could potentially harm others if they have access to firearms. Signs that someone may be at risk:
- Concerning behavior statements that raise safety concerns
- Careless or unsafe handling of a firearm
- Threats or acts of violence toward oneself or others
- Violating a peace or protective order
- Illegal possession of a firearm
A person does not need to own a firearm for an ERPO to be requested. It may apply if they have access to a firearm or could obtain one
- There is no fee or cost to file an ERPO.
- You will complete three forms;
- 1. ERPO petition
- This is the main form where you explain the following:
- Petitioner information (your name and contact details)
- Note: You do not have to include your address if sharing it could put you at risk.
- Who the respondent (the person the ERPO is filed against) is
- Why you believe the respondent may be at risk of harming themselves or others
- Descriptive details of any firearms owned by the respondent and where they are stored.
- History of dangerous behavior in respondent
- Petitioner information (your name and contact details)
- This is the main form where you explain the following:
- 2. Description of Respondent (the person the ERPO is filed against)
- Addendum: An extra page attached to the ERPO petition where you can include additional details about the respondent that do not fit on the main form.
- This form provides identifying information about the respondent (home address, work address, other known addresses or places where they could be found, physical description, physical details such as scars, tattoos, etc.)
- 3. Summary of Mental Health History (if applicable)
- Optional but helpful. You may include information about the respondent’s mental health history, such as hospitalizations, medications, or recent crisis behaviors. Providing as many details as possible can help the court better assess the situation.
- 1. ERPO petition
- Examples of filed forms can be found here.
- ERPO forms can be downloaded and printed from the Maryland Courts website.
- These forms are available as fillable PDFs and can also be downloaded from this website. (Linked above)
- Forms and additional information can be found on the District Court of Maryland webpage.
- If the clerk’s office is open, file the petition with a District Court Clerk
- Howard County Filing Location
- District Court of Maryland Directories webpage
- Howard District Court/Multi-Service Center
- 3451 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043
- Phone: 410-480-7720 or 410-480-7721
- Fax: 410-480-7722
- Hours of Operation
- 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday (excluding holidays)
- Howard County Filing Location
Directions
FROM 695: Take Exit 15/Ellicott City, Route 40 West to Route 99 (Rogers Avenue). Turn left at the traffic light and follow Rogers Avenue to Courthouse Drive. Turn left on Martha Bush Drive and turn right at the first driveway to the Multi-Service Center. Commissioner’s Office to the right rear.
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- If the Clerk’s Office is closed, contact the Administrative Commissioner:
- Administrative Commissioner
Katie Nyulassy
410-480-7721
- Administrative Commissioner
- A Spanish interpreter is available for help.
- If a petition is filed while the court is open, a judge will review it the same day.
- An interim ERPO is issued by a court commissioner when the court is not open and provides short-term protection until the court reopens, typically lasting only until the next business day.
- If it is granted, the petitioner is told to return to court the next business day (typically at 1:15 PM) for a hearing. The petitioner is given this hearing date at the time of filing.
- A temporary ERPO is then issued by a judge after the first court date and is valid for a longer period, usually up to about one week, until a final hearing is held.
- After reviewing the petition, the judge may take one of the following actions:
- If there is immediate danger, the judge may issue a temporary ERPO and schedule a court hearing for a final decision.
- In some cases, the judge may skip the temporary ERPO and schedule a final hearing right away.
- If a judge issues an Extreme Risk Protective Order, the respondent must surrender any firearms and ammunition they possess.
- Law enforcement will remove or take possession of the firearms and hold them for the duration of the order.
- A Temporary ERPO lasts until the Final ERPO hearing but not beyond six (6) months.
A Final ERPO may remain in effect for as long as one (1) year. The court for good cause may extend the term of the order for an additional six (6) months after a subsequent hearing
- No. If you file in good faith, you are protected from civil or criminal liability.
- Maryland law also allows medical professionals limited exceptions to confidentiality when filing ERPOs.
- An ERPO does not:
- Create a criminal record
- Send someone to jail
- Permanently take away rights
- Affect immigration status
- It is temporary and preventive, focused on safety.
- Complete the required forms
- File at District Court (or with a commissioner if closed)
- Judge reviews the same day
- Return next business day for hearing IF granted by a judge
- If there is immediate danger, call 911
- Grassroots Crisis
- Call Crisis Line 410-531-6677
- Team of mental health professionals whose primary objective is to assist people in handling and managing emotional, traumatic or psychiatric crises.
- Call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Chat with a 988 Crisis Counselor
- Call Crisis Line 410-531-6677
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders: A Health Intervention for Preventing Firearm Suicide
- John's Hopkins Maryland Extreme Risk Protection Orders
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders: How Do They Differ?
- District Court of Maryland Extreme Risk Protection Orders
- MD Courts ERPO Brochure
- Court Help
- Free legal help with your civil matter
- 410-260-1392
- 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Free legal help with your civil matter