What Should You Do if You Are Accused of Domestic Violence?

 Posted on February 11, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Even if the accusations about your behavior are completely false, a domestic violence charge can damage your life in irreparable ways. In Maryland, law enforcement and prosecutors take domestic violence cases very seriously. This means you need to take your defense just as seriously.

The steps you take immediately after you find out someone has accused you of this serious crime can determine what happens with your case. This means you need to understand what kind of mistakes people make that mess up their defense cases after an accusation of domestic violence.

If you are accused of domestic violence or assault in 2026, our Parkville, MD criminal defense attorney can help you make the best of a bad situation. Call us at 410-252-0600 right away.  

What Counts as Domestic Violence in Maryland?

Domestic violence is when the family member or intimate partner of another person abuses that person. Maryland law defines abuse broadly under Maryland Family Law Code Section 4-501 to include:

• Any act that causes serious bodily harm
• Assault of any degree
• Battery
• Rape or sexual assault
• False imprisonment
• Stalking
• Revenge porn 

What changes one crime, such as assault or rape, to domestic violence is the relationship between the accused person and the alleged victim. Domestic violence charges apply when the people involved are current or former spouses, people who live together, people who have a child together, or people in a dating or sexual relationship.

Law enforcement agencies in Maryland respond to tens of thousands of domestic violence calls every year. Police are trained to arrest someone at the scene if they believe domestic violence occurred, even if it didn’t actually happen and even if the alleged victim does not want to press charges. This means you can be arrested and charged based completely on one person's statement, without real evidence or witnesses.

What Should You Do if You’re Accused of Domestic Violence?

What you do right now can make or break your case.

Stay Quiet

First, do not talk to the police without a lawyer present. You have the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and you should use it. Police may tell you that talking will help clear things up or that remaining silent makes you look guilty. This is not true. Anything you say can and will be twisted and used against you in court.

Don’t Contact Your Alleged Victim

Second, do not contact the alleged victim. If you have been arrested, the court may issue a protective order that prohibits any contact. Violating a protective order is a separate crime that can result in additional charges and jail time. Even if no protective order exists yet, trying to talk to the alleged victim can be used as evidence of intimidation or harassment.

Write Down What Happened

Third, document everything you can remember about the incident. Write down what happened, when it happened, where you were, and who else was there. If you have any text messages, emails, voicemails, or social media messages, keep them. Take screenshots and back them up. Don’t delete anything.

Give Your Attorney Witness Information

If there were witnesses, write down their names and contact information. You should also try to find any physical evidence that supports your version of events. This might be pictures of your injuries if the alleged victim attacked you or damaged property, or a voice message of the alleged victim threatening you.

Can Domestic Violence Charges Be Dropped in Maryland?

Many people believe that if the supposed victim changes their mind and wants to drop the charges, the case will go away. This is not how it works in Maryland. Once domestic violence charges are filed, the decision about what to do with them belongs to the state, not the alleged victim. The prosecutor can move forward with the case even if the alleged victim no longer wants to cooperate.

Why You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer Right Away

Prosecutors often have strong biases in these cases. They may want to get a conviction and go after you aggressively, even when the evidence is weak. You need a criminal defense lawyer who knows how to fight the prosecution and protect your constitutional rights. In many cases, a great attorney can get charges reduced or dropped.

Many people make the mistake of waiting too long to hire a lawyer. The sooner you have legal representation, the better your chances of a favorable outcome. Your lawyer can begin investigating the case, interviewing witnesses, and building your defense immediately rather than scrambling at the last minute.

Call a Timonium, MD Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have been accused of domestic violence, it’s not an exaggeration to say your future could be at stake. A conviction can result in jail time, a permanent criminal record, losing your gun rights, and serious consequences for your career and family life. You need a criminal defense attorney who will fight for you.

Call our Parkville, MD criminal defense lawyer at 410-252-0600 today to let us start building your defense.