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Checklist – How to File a Motion to Modify or Terminate Personal Protection Order When You are the Respondent
These are step-by-step instructions to help you file a Motion to Modify or Terminate a Personal Protection Order (PPO) that someone has against you. You can use these instructions if you are the Respondent in the PPO case.
Step 1: Complete the forms
Complete the forms using the Do-It-Yourself Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate a Personal Protection Order (PPO) tool. Date and sign the completed motion at line F.
If you are filing a motion to terminate the PPO, you will get the following forms:
- A Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order
- An Order on Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order
- A Proof of Service
If you are filing a motion to modify the PPO, you will get the following forms:
- A Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order
- An Order on Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order
- A Personal Protection Order
- A Proof of Service
Only the top part of your proposed orders will be filled in. Leave the rest of the proposed orders blank. The judge will complete them.
Some of the steps later in this checklist may have slightly different information for you depending on how you will file with the court, so you may want to learn more about the choices in your area.
Each court decides how it will accept documents for filing. Contact your court to find out which methods are available. Depending on your court, you may be able to file by:
- In-person filing
- E-Filing using MiFILE
- Mailing or dropping off documents
- Fax
You can find contact information for your court on the Courts & Agencies page of Michigan Legal Help.
MiFILE is only available for some courts. Even in courts where it is available, you can only use it for some case types. The State Court Administrative Office keeps a chart of courts that use e-Filing. To learn more, read What Is E-Filing?.
Step 2: Make copies of the forms
If you are filing either by e-mail or using MiFILE, you will not need to make copies.
If you are filing in person, make three copies of the Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order and any attachments.
In some counties the court clerk’s office will make the copies for you. Call the clerk’s office ahead of time to ask if you need to make your own copies.
Step 3: Schedule a court hearing
Take your forms to the circuit court clerk’s office in the county where the PPO case was filed, or call the clerk’s office. Ask the court clerk for a hearing date and time. Fill in the Notice of Hearing on all copies of your motion. Include the judge's name and the date, time, and location of the hearing.
Step 4: File your motion
Contact your court to find out which filing methods are available. Depending on your court, you may be able to file by:
- In-person filing
- E-Filing using MiFILE
- Mailing or dropping off documents
- Fax
You can find contact information for your court on the Courts & Agencies page of Michigan Legal Help.
If you are filing in person, give the original and copies of your motion (including attachments) to the court clerk. The clerk will give you back the copies that the court doesn’t need.
MiFILE is only available for some courts. Even in courts where it is available, you can only use it for some case types. The State Court Administrative Office keeps a chart of courts that use e-Filing. To learn more, read What Is E-Filing?.
Please note that completing the documents on Michigan Legal Help or Law Help Interactive does not file anything with the court.
Important! File your motion within 14 days after being served with the ex parte PPO or receiving actual notice of it. If you do not file within 14 days, you will have to show good cause for filing the motion after the 14 days passed.
Step 5: Have the Petitioner served with the papers
You must have the Petitioner served with the motion and any attachments you filed. Make sure the Notice of Hearing section is complete.
The Petitioner must be served with the papers at least seven days before the hearing.
You cannot serve the Petitioner yourself. You can have the papers personally served by a police officer, professional process server, friend, or relative. The process server can also send the papers by registered mail with return receipt requested. The Petitioner must sign the return receipt (the green card) if served by mail. You should receive the return receipt in the mail. Save the green card to attach to the Proof of Service.
Step 6: File a Proof of Service
Have the process server complete the Proof of Service that printed out directly after your Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order. The Proof of Service tells the court how and where the Petitioner was served with the papers. If the process server is not a sheriff, bailiff, or court officer, the Proof of Service must be signed in front of a notary. There is usually a notary at the clerk's office.
If the Petitioner was served by mail, the green card signed by the Petitioner (the return receipt) must be attached to the Proof of Service when it is filed.
If you are filing the Proof of Service electronically, make sure you have scanned and attached an image of the green card along with the Proof of Service.
The process server can file the Proof of Service with the court clerk or return it to you to file. You should discuss this with the process server ahead of time.
Step 7: Attend the hearing
These are brief instructions about attending an in-person court hearing. For more detailed instructions about going to court, read What to Expect When You Go to Court. If your hearing is going to be held through Zoom instead, read Remote Hearings.
Go to the court on the scheduled day and time. Dress neatly. Arrive 10 or 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing time. Go to the clerk and tell them your name, that you are there for a hearing, and that you are representing yourself. Follow the clerk’s directions and do not interrupt any hearing in progress.
Bring the blank Order on Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate Personal Protection Order. If you are asking to modify the PPO, also bring the blank Personal Protection Order. Be prepared to answer questions from the judge about why you want the PPO changed or ended.
When you are called, go to the place you are directed and answer the judge’s questions clearly and directly. If the Petitioner is at the hearing, they will also have a turn to speak.
The judge will ask you for your order(s) once they make a decision.
Step 8: After the hearing
If the Petitioner is at the hearing, the court may serve the Petitioner with the order(s) there. If not, get a copy of the order(s) to have sent to the Petitioner. Unless the judge terminates (ends) the PPO, do not serve the Petitioner yourself. You can have the papers served by a police officer, professional process server, friend, or relative. The server should send the order(s) by first class mail to the Petitioner's last known address.
Get a copy of the order(s) for your own records.
Step 9: File the completed Proof of Service with the court clerk
When you completed the Do-It-Yourself Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate a Personal Protection Order (PPO), the last form in your packet was a blank Proof of Service. Have the process server complete the Proof of Service and file it with the court clerk's office. If you filed your motion with the court electronically (through MiFILE or e-mail), file the same way now.
The process server should fill in the following items on the Proof of Service:
- The judge's name
- The date and time the papers were mailed
- The Petitioner’s name
- The Petitioner's address
The process server should check the boxes next to the forms that were mailed. They should also check the box next to "First class mail to last known address." If the process server is not a sheriff, bailiff, or court officer, they must sign the Proof of Service in front of a notary public. There is usually a notary at the clerk's office.
Get a copy of the Proof of Service for your records.