Who Has To Report It
Fam. Law § 5-704 — professionals report orally and in writing within 48 hours, and everyone else reports too
In Maryland, a health practitioner, police officer, educator or human service worker who has reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected notifies the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency, and if working at an institution, also notifies its head.
| The step | When, as the section puts it |
|---|---|
| The stepThe oral report | When, as the section puts itAs soon as possible, by telephone or in person |
| The stepThe written report | When, as the section puts itTo the local department not later than 48 hours after the contact that raised the concern, with a copy to the State's Attorney |
Every other person in the state has a duty to notify too. A person in Maryland other than those professionals who has reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected notifies the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency, apart from the privileges the section protects, such as attorney and client.
What counts as abuse or neglect, the immunity a good faith report carries, and the confidentiality of the reporter are set in other sections and are not reproduced here. In an emergency, the police come first. Whether a duty applied in a particular case is a question for a court and for a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5-704 — Reporting of abuse or neglect by health practitioners, police, educators, and human service workers
- Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5-705 — Reporting by other persons
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.