Published on 1/14/2026, 12:00:00 AM
Can You Get a Domestic Violence Charge Expunged in Maryland?
Yes, some domestic violence related charges can be expunged in Maryland, but the real answer depends on what happened in your case and what the charge actually was.
That is because “domestic violence” is not always the name of the criminal charge. Many domestic violence cases are charged as first or second degree assault, and some charges can be “marked domestically related.” See: Domestic assault.
If you want a broad overview of record clearing, start here: Expungement and shielding.
Domestic violence protective orders vs. domestic violence criminal charges
People mix these up, and it causes expensive mistakes.
- Protective order (civil case): A protective order is a civil court order that can control contact, require someone to leave a home, and more. See: Protective orders and Protective vs Peace Order: Quick Guide.
- Domestic violence criminal charges (criminal case): A domestic violence allegation can also lead to criminal charges like assault. Criminal charges can create a criminal record and a sentence. See: Domestic assault.
These can happen at the same time. Also, if an order is active, a violation can create new criminal exposure:
If your goal is privacy from a protective order record, the tool is often shielding, not expungement. See: Shielding protective orders.
The short answer to the keyword question
Can you get a domestic violence charge expunged?
It depends on the case outcome and the specific charge.
- If your case ended without a conviction, Maryland expungement can be available in common outcomes like acquittal, dismissal, and nolle prosequi, and in some PBJ situations. (See the general overview: Expungement and shielding.)
- If you were convicted, Maryland Criminal Procedure Article Section 10-110 is one of the statutes that can allow expungement for certain convictions, but it is limited to listed offenses and specific waiting periods.
In other words: for convictions, the first question is usually “Is my conviction on the Section 10-110 list?”
How Section 10-110 fits into DV-related expungements (without getting lost in it)
Section 10-110(a) allows expungement petitions for convictions of certain listed misdemeanors and felonies.
One DV-adjacent item that appears in the statute list is Criminal Law Article Section 3-203 (commonly charged in DV cases as second degree assault).
Then Section 10-110(c) sets waiting periods based on “completion of sentence,” including:
- 7 years for a violation of Criminal Law Article Section 3-203 (and common law battery)
- 15 years for an offense classified as a “domestically related crime” under Criminal Procedure Article Section 6-233
Those two timing rules are why DV-related expungement timelines can be longer than people expect.
Common follow-up questions (from this keyword cluster)
Can domestic violence be expunged?
What people usually mean is: “Can my DV-related criminal case be expunged?”
If the case is a criminal case and the outcome and timing line up with an expungement path, then yes, some DV-related cases can be expunged. If the issue is a protective order, expungement is often not the right concept; shielding is. See: Shielding protective orders.
Can domestic violence charges be expunged?
Sometimes. You need to identify:
- The exact charge(s) (often assault offenses in DV contexts)
- The final disposition (dismissed, nolle prosequi, not guilty, PBJ, conviction)
- Whether you are inside or outside the waiting period
- Whether you have a new conviction or a pending case
Those last two points matter because Section 10-110(d) includes disqualifiers like a pending criminal proceeding and rules that can delay eligibility if there are new convictions during the waiting period.
How do you get a domestic violence charge expunged?
At a high level, Maryland’s expungement process is about filing the right petition in the right place and being ready for objections:
- Section 10-110(b) focuses on filing in the court where the proceeding began (with special rules for transfers and appeals).
- Section 10-110(e) requires service on the State’s Attorney and notice to victims, with a 30-day window for objections.
- If there is a timely objection, Section 10-110(f) requires a hearing and lists findings the court must make to grant expungement under this section.
For the practical checklist version, start here: Expungement and shielding.
Can you get domestic violence expunged?
If you mean a DV-related criminal record, sometimes yes, depending on the outcome and the statute-based eligibility rules.
If you mean a protective order record, the path is usually shielding, not expungement. See: Shielding protective orders.
Can I get a domestic violence charge expunged?
This comes down to your facts. A few quick “yes/no” gates come straight from Section 10-110:
- Do you have a pending criminal case right now? If yes, Section 10-110(d) says you are not eligible while you are a defendant in a pending criminal proceeding.
- Did you pick up a new conviction during the waiting period? If yes, Section 10-110(d) can delay eligibility until the new conviction becomes eligible.
- Is the conviction on the Section 10-110 list? If not, Section 10-110 may not be the right statute for that conviction.
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