WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                         S.B. 332

(2) may issue an injunction to protect any party to the action from physical
harm or harassment.

(b) Unless the court expressly provides otherwise, the filing of an action for an
annulment, a limited divorce, or an absolute divorce does not constitute lis pendens with
respect to any property of a party.

(c) In an action for alimony, annulment, or divorce, a final decree may not be
entered except on oral testimony by the plaintiff in a hearing before an examiner or a
master or in open court.

(d) [An equity court] THE FAMILY COURT shall hear and determine a case for
alimony in as full and ample a manner as a case for alimony could be heard and
determined by the Ecclesiastical Courts of England.

4-501.

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) (1) "Abuse" means any of the following acts:

(i) an act that causes serious bodily harm;

(ii) an act that places a person eligible for relief in fear of imminent
serious bodily harm;

(iii) battery or assault and battery;

(iv) rape or sexual offense as defined by Article 27, §§ 462 through
464C or attempted rape or sexual offense;

(v) false imprisonment;

(vi) abuse of a child, as defined in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of this article; or

(vii) abuse of a vulnerable adult.

(2) Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to prohibit reasonable
punishment, including reasonable corporal punishment, in light of the age and condition
of the child, from being performed by a parent or stepparent of the child.

(c) "Cohabitant" means a person who has had a sexual relationship with the
respondent and resided with the respondent in the homo for a period of at least 90 days
within 1 year before the filing of the petition.

(d) "Court" means the [District Court or a circuit court in this State] FAMILY
COURT.

[(e)] (F) "Emergency family maintenance" means a monetary award given to or
for a person eligible for relief to whom the respondent has a duty of support under this
article based on:

(1) the financial needs of the person eligible for relief; and

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