Personal Protection Orders (PPO)

What is a Personal Protection Order?

A Personal Protection action involves seeking an order from the Court to protect you from harassment, assault, beating, molesting, wounding or stalking by another person.

There is no filing fee to file for a Personal Protection Order.

The person filing for the order is called the petitioner and the person whom you are filing the petition against is called the respondent.

Where to File

All Personal Protection forms need to be filed with the Circuit Court Records Division of the Clerk’s Office. These can be filed at the following two locations:

Legal Obligations When Filing for a Personal Protection Order

You assume certain legal obligations when you apply for a Personal Protection Order and that Order is granted by the Court. Meeting these obligations is essential for the success of your order and for you and/or your children’s safety.

The following is a list of your obligations as the Petitioner:

1. The respondent must be served with the Personal Protection Order.
   You cannot serve the respondent yourself. A process server or an individual, over the age of 18, can complete service by doing one of the following:
   • Personal Service. Delivering the paperwork personally to the respondent and indicating that the respondent was served, where they were served and the day, date and time of which they were served.
   • Certified Mail. Restricted delivery to the respondent only.
2. After service has been made, the proof of service must be completed and returned to the Clerk’s Office. If the respondent is served by certified mail, then you must attach the green card which has been signed by the respondent.
3. Carry a certified copy of the Personal Protection Order. If you call the police, but the respondent has not yet been served, the police can use your copy to serve the respondent at the scene.
4. Be truthful in all statements you make to the Court. An individual who knowingly and intentionally makes a false statement to the Court in support of his or her petition, or intentionally alters the Court’s Order is subject to contempt sanctions.
5. A Personal Protection Order is an Order of the Court prohibiting certain behaviors by the respondent. If the respondent violates the order, despite the fact that the petitioner has agreed to the violation, the respondent can be arrested and show caused by the court as to why the violation occurred. It is your duty to file the appropriate motion requesting the court to modify or terminate the order if your situation has changed with the respondent.

NOTE: The respondent will receive a letter from the Michigan State Police stating that s/he cannot get a license to purchase a pistol nor a license to carry a concealed weapon. This letter is sent even if the respondent is not served.

Types of Personal Protection Orders

Generally, there are three types of Personal Protection Orders which can be filed against another adult:

Domestic Relationship

The Petition for Personal Protection Order (Domestic Relationship) is if the person you want restrained is older than 18 years of age and one of the following circumstances exist:

• If you are married to the person you want restrained
• If you are not married to the person you want restrained but you live with or have lived with him/her
• If you and the person you want restrained have a child in common
• If you and the person you want restrained have or had a dating relationship

Non Domestic Relationship

If none of the Domestic Relationship circumstances exist, and the person you want restrained is older than 18 years of age, complete the Petition for Personal Protection Order (Non-Domestic Relationship).

Non-Domestic Sexual Assault

The Petition for Personal Protection Order (Non Domestic Sexual Assault) is if the person you want restrained is older than 18 years of age and one of the following circumstances exist:

• If the person has previously been convicted of a sexual assault against your, or
• If the person subjected you to, threatened you with, or placed you in reasonable apprehension of sexual assault, or
• If the person previously has been convicted of furnishing you, or a minor, with obscene material, or
• If the person furnished you, or a minor, with obscene material.

Petitions Involving a Minor

If you are filing for a Personal Protection Order and you (Petitioner) are under the age of 18, complete the Petition and Order for Appointment of Next Friend and Consent by Minor to Appoint Next Friend in addition to the appropriate Petition for Personal Protection Order.

If you are filing for a Personal Protection Order and the Respondent is under the age of 18, there are three types of Petitions for Personal Protection Orders Against a Minor.

Domestic Relationship Involving a Minor

The Petition for Personal Protection Order Against a Minor (Domestic Relationship) is if the person you want restrained is younger than 18 years of age and one of the following circumstances exist:

• If you live with or have lived with the person you want restrained and that person is not your un-emancipated minor child or
• If you and the person you want restrained have a child in common or
• If you and the person you want restrained have or had a dating relationship.

Non-Domestic Relationship Involving a Minor

If none of the Domestic Relationship circumstances exist, and the person you want restrained is younger than 18 years of age, complete the Petition for Personal Protection Order Against a Minor (Non-Domestic Relationship).

Non-Domestic Sexual Assault

The Petition for Personal Protection Order Against a Minor (Non-Domestic Sexual Assault) is if the person you want restrained is younger than 18 years of age and one of the following circumstances exist:

• If the person is subject to an order of disposition or other adjudication based on a sexual assault against you, or
• If the person subjected you to, threatened you with, or placed you in reasonable apprehension of sexual assault, or
• If the person is subject to an order of disposition or other adjudication based on furnishing you, or a minor, with obscene material, or
• If the person furnished you, or a minor, with obscene material.

Forms

After you have completed all of the required forms, you will need to file these documents with the Circuit Court Records Division of the Clerk’s Office. If you have questions, please contact Circuit Court Records Office for assistance at (616) 846-8315 or come into the office during regularly scheduled business hours.