{"id":373889,"date":"2016-10-27T16:26:38","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T21:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-self-defense-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-11-04T12:10:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T17:10:53","slug":"maryland-self-defense-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-self-defense-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Self Defense Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Maryland Self Defense Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Unlike most other states, Maryland does not have statutory self-defense laws. Maryland uses common law legal concepts and case law to define the amount of force appropriate to a situation. Because there is no statutory presumption for the use of force, there is no legal right to use force, even to defend yourself. You must prove it was necessary in court.<\/p>\r\n

Maryland Self-Defense Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Maryland follows two common-law principles: a duty to retreat and the "castle doctrine." Case law and court rulings support these legal concepts.<\/p>\r\n

Duty to retreat.<\/b> Maryland has no affirmative law requiring you to retreat before using force. But under common law doctrine, if you are in public, you must retreat before using deadly force if:<\/p>\r\n