For complete results, select the county where you live or where your case is filed:
Common Questions about Personal Protection Orders, Domestic Relationships
Contents
These are common questions about Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) for domestic relationships.
Questions about What It Means to Have a PPO
A personal protection order (PPO) is a court order to stop threats or violence against you. A PPO can help protect you from someone who is threatening, hurting, or harassing you.
There are three types of PPOs:
- Domestic relationship PPO
- Nondomestic relationship stalking PPO
- Nondomestic relationship sexual assault PPO
You need to use different PPO forms if the person you need protection from is a minor. To learn more about the different types of PPOs, read the article Overview of Personal Protection Orders.
Yes. A "no-contact" order is usually a bond condition in a criminal case. A “no-contact” order usually means the abuser can’t:
- Call you
- Write you
- Have someone else contact you
- Contact you in person
If the abuser violates a “no-contact” order that is a condition of bond, the judge can revoke or increase the amount of the bond. Only a judge can change a bond condition after it’s ordered.
A “no-contact” order in a criminal case does not replace the need for a PPO. If the criminal charges are dropped, the bond with the “no-contact” condition is canceled and the abuser will be able to contact you again. If you have a PPO, it can protect you from the abuser if a “no-contact” order is canceled.
You can ask for specific protections when you file your PPO petition, but the judge will decide which behaviors your PPO will prohibit. The specific protections in your PPO depend on the type of PPO and the protections you need.
In general, a PPO can prohibit the abuser from doing things like:
- Coming to your home
- Threatening you
- Hurting you
- Coming to your job or school
- Following you
- Calling or texting you
- E-mailing you
- Having things delivered to you
You might ask the court to schedule a hearing on your PPO petition if:
- You don’t need a PPO right away or
- You ask for an ex parte PPO, but the judge doesn’t grant it
If the judge denies your request for an ex parte order and you want a hearing, you must ask the court to schedule the hearing within 21 days of the date the judge signed the order denying your petition. The abuser must be served with the petition and notice of hearing.
To decide whether you need a PPO, the judge may:
- Listen to your testimony
- Listen to testimony from the abuser
- Listen to testimony from other witnesses
Lawyers can participate in the PPO hearing. If the judge awards you a PPO after a hearing, have the signed PPO served on the abuser at the hearing or after.
Questions about Starting a Court Case to get a PPO
You can file a petition for a PPO if you have a reasonable fear for your personal freedom or safety. The judge assigned to your case will decide whether to give you a PPO and what things your PPO will prohibit the abuser from doing.
Domestic Relationship PPO
To get a domestic relationship PPO, you must have a domestic relationship with your abuser. You have a domestic relationship with someone who is:
- Your current or ex-spouse
- Your child’s other parent
- Someone you live with now or used to live with
- Someone you have dated
A Domestic Relationship PPO can help you if someone assaulted or threatened you, or if you have a reasonable fear for your personal liberty or safety. To learn more, read Domestic Relationship Personal Protection Orders.
Nondomestic Stalking PPO
A nondomestic stalking PPO is used to protect you from stalking if you and the abuser don't have a domestic relationship. To get a nondomestic stalking PPO, you must show that there have been at least two incidents of stalking. Stalking is repeated behavior by someone else that scares or harasses you, and would scare or harass a reasonable person. This could include following you, calling or texting you, or showing up at your home or work.
To learn more, read Nondomestic (Stalking) Personal Protection Orders.
Nondomestic Sexual Assault PPO
A nondomestic sexual assault PPO is to protect you from someone you don't have a domestic relationship with who has:
- Sexually assaulted you
- Threatened to sexually assault you or
- If you are under 18, given you or attempted to give you obscene material
To learn more, read Nondomestic Sexual Assault Personal Protection Orders.
The judge issues an ex parte PPO without notice to the abuser and without a hearing. You might be afraid that you will be harmed if you do not get a PPO right away. You might be afraid that you will be harmed if the abuser finds out you are asking for a PPO. In either case, you can ask for an ex parte order.
If the judge gives you an ex parte order, you will not have to wait for a hearing before you get your PPO. The judge will make a decision based only on your side of the story. Also, you will not have to have the abuser served with the PPO petition until after you are protected by a PPO.
The abuser has an opportunity after an ex parte PPO is entered to object and ask for a hearing.
File a petition for a personal protection order at the circuit court clerk’s office. If the Respondent is an adult, you can file in any Michigan county. You don’t have to live in the county where you file.
The petition gives the judge important information needed to decide whether to give you the PPO. The petition is available from the county clerk. Some counties also require you to file additional local forms. You can use the Do-It-Yourself Personal Protection Order (PPO) tool to prepare your petition. The clerk will assign your case to a judge when you file your petition. The judge may sign the order, or you may have to go to a hearing before the judge decides whether or not to sign the order.
There is no fee to file a petition for a personal protection order. However, it may cost you money to have papers served on the other party. This depends on who serves them. For more information, read Serving Your Personal Protection Order.
The abuser will see what you write in your petition. You must have a copy of your PPO petition and any attached documents served on the abuser. The petition and order and all attachments will also be kept in the court file. The court file is a public record anyone can view.
If you want to keep your address and phone number confidential, do not include them on your PPO forms. Instead, give the address of a relative or friend, or a P.O. Box where the court can contact you about your case.
Also make sure you don't file any attachments that have your address or phone number on them (like a police report or medical record).
The information you include in your petition is very important. It helps the judge decide whether to give you the order you want. Tell the judge what the abuser did to you and how you were emotionally or physically harmed. Include dates or times of year if you can remember them. Explain why you need to be protected. You can attach extra pages to your petition, so be as detailed as possible.
No. You can file a petition for a PPO and write in your own words about what happened. The judge cannot deny your petition solely because you don't have a police report or other evidence. However, if there are police reports, medical records, or other evidence, you should file them with your petition. They can help the judge understand what happened to you and why you need protection.
There are special forms to use when the abuser is a minor. PPOs are also enforced differently against minors. Both the process and penalties are different from those used with adults. To learn more about PPOs when the abuser is under 18, read the article Minors and Personal Protection Orders.
You can use our Do-It-Yourself Personal Protection Order (PPO) tool to complete the forms you need. You can also contact your local domestic violence agency for help filling out PPO forms. To find a helpful organization in your area, look at the Community Services section of the I Need a Personal Protection Order – Domestic Relationship toolkit.
Many courts also have an advocate in the courthouse who can help you fill out the PPO forms. Court clerks may be able to help you with your forms, but they cannot give you legal advice.
To serve someone is to give that person notice that a lawsuit has been filed against them. Service is required to satisfy due process, which everyone has a right to under American law.
It is important for you to have the abuser served with a copy of the petition for the PPO, any attachments, and the signed PPO as soon as possible so that police can enforce your PPO. If you don’t have the abuser served, you may have trouble getting local police to arrest the abuser if there is a violation of the PPO.
There are several ways to have your PPO papers served. Choose the kind of service that makes the most sense in your case. You can pay someone to serve the papers. You can have a friend or relative serve the papers if you think it is safe. You cannot serve the papers yourself. An advocate from your local domestic violence organization may be able to help you decide how to serve the papers. Types of service include:
- Personal service by a professional process server
- Personal service by a friend or relative
- Personal service by a sheriff or police department
- Service by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested
- Alternate service (only if allowed by the court)
- Personal service at a court hearing (when the judge issues a PPO at a hearing)
For more information about having your PPO papers served, see the article Serving Your Personal Protection Order.
Questions about Enforcing a PPO
Your PPO is enforceable anywhere in Michigan as soon the judge signs it. After you have the abuser served with the PPO, it can be enforced in other states as well.
If the abuser violates your PPO, you can call 911 or your local police right away. When the police arrive, show them your PPO and Proof of Service (if you have one).
If you don't have a copy of your PPO, the police can look it up on the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN). If you haven't had the abuser served with the PPO, you can ask the police to:
- Give the abuser a copy of your PPO or
- Tell the abuser about the PPO
To learn more, read Personal Protection Order Violations and Enforcement.
It depends. If the abuser has been served with your PPO, and the police officer has reasonable cause to believe that the abuser violated it, the officer can make an immediate arrest. If the abuser has not been served with your PPO, ask the police to either give the abuser a copy of your PPO or tell the abuser about it. Once the police notify the abuser about your PPO, they must give the abuser a chance to obey it. If the abuser does not then obey the PPO, the police can make an immediate arrest.
If an arrest is made, the abuser will have to appear before the judge. The abuser will plead “guilty” or “not guilty” to the contempt charge. If the abuser pleads “guilty,” the judge will decide the sentence. If the abuser pleads “not guilty,” the court will schedule a hearing on the contempt charge. The judge will also set bond, unless they decide that you will not be safe if the abuser is released before the hearing. If the bond is posted, the abuser is released until the contempt hearing.
Sometimes the abuser leaves before the police arrive, or the abuser violates the PPO from somewhere else (like making a phone call). If the police don't arrest the abuser, you can file a Motion to Show Cause for Violating Valid Personal/Foreign Protection Order. You must state what the abuser did or said. You can also include supporting witness statements, police reports, photographs, or other documents if you have them.
After you file your motion, the judge may:
- Schedule a hearing on your motion and
- Order the abuser to appear in court for the hearing
You must arrange to have the abuser served with a copy of the motion and order at least seven days before the hearing.
The prosecuting attorney usually prosecutes the contempt charge. A prosecuting attorney represents the government in criminal court cases. At the hearing both the prosecutor and the abuser or the abuser’s lawyer presents witnesses and other evidence. You may have to testify.
Each side gets to cross-examine the other’s witnesses. This means that each party (or their lawyer) will get to ask questions in court of a witness who has testified for the opposing party. The questions on cross-examination are limited to the subjects covered in the direct examination of the witness. A judge will decide whether your PPO was violated. There is no jury.
No. A PPO is a court order in a civil case. A violation of a PPO is “contempt of court,” which is different than a criminal charge. However, a PPO violation can result in jail time for the abuser.
An act can be a PPO violation and a crime (for example, an assault). In that situation the abuser may be charged with both a PPO violation and a crime for the same event.
The abuser can be found guilty of contempt of court for violating your PPO. The abuser could face up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
The abuser could also face criminal prosecution for the same behavior. For example, if the abuser violated the PPO by hitting you, they could face criminal assault and battery charges in addition to contempt charges.
Yes. Every Michigan PPO is enforceable in any state if the abuser has been served. A federal law called the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) says that each state must enforce out-of-state protection orders the same way it enforces its own protection orders. If your Michigan PPO is violated in a different state, the abuser will be punished according to the law of that state.
If you are outside of Michigan and the abuser violates your PPO, you can call 911 or the local police right away. The police can explain the enforcement process in that state or refer you to a local domestic violence agency that can help you.
No. You do not need to get a new protection order if you leave Michigan. Under federal law your PPO is automatically enforceable in another state. Other states must treat your PPO as if it were their own.
If you are in another state, find out that state’s rules for enforcing your PPO there. Some states might ask you to register your PPO so their courts and police know about it. Registering your PPO can make enforcement easier if the abuser violates the PPO. But even if you do not register your PPO, the new state must still enforce a valid Michigan PPO.
The new state can’t require you to notify the abuser that you registered your Michigan PPO there. The new state may notify the abuser only if you ask. If you don’t ask, the law does not allow the state to notify the abuser.
No. You don’t need a lawyer to help enforce a PPO in another state. But you may want to get help from a local domestic violence agency in your new state. A domestic violence agency can help you understand local law enforcement policies.
No. You don’t have to tell the court if you move. But you should consider giving the court a current address so you can be told about activity in your PPO case. You can ask the court to keep your contact information confidential.
Yes. In Michigan, the police can arrest a person for violating a foreign (out-of-state) protection order. An officer can rely on a copy of the foreign order if:
- Your name and the abuser’s name are on the order;
- It was in effect before the abuser violated it;
- It lists the behaviors the abuser is prohibited from doing;
- It includes the name of the issuing court;
- The judge’s signature appears on it; and
- The order hasn’t expired.
A foreign order can be enforced in Michigan even if it is not registered in Michigan or verified in the LEIN system.
Questions about Changing, Terminating, or Extending a PPO
Your PPO has an expiration date at the bottom of the order. Your PPO will remain in effect until the expiration date unless the judge extends it. An emergency PPO must be in effect for at least six months. But the judge could make it effective longer than six months.
If you want the judge to extend your PPO, you can use the Do-It-Yourself Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate a Personal Protection Order (PPO) tool. You must file the motion at least three days before the expiration date. In the motion explain why you want your PPO extended. If you file a motion, the judge can extend your PPO without a hearing.
If you don’t file a motion to extend your PPO, it will end on the expiration date stated on your PPO.
The Respondent in a PPO case has the right to file a motion to modify (change) or terminate (end) an ex parte PPO. The motion must be filed within 14 days after the Respondent is served with the PPO or receives notice of it.
The judge may not change or end your PPO without having a court hearing. You will be notified if a hearing is scheduled in your case. Attend the hearing if you don’t want your PPO to be changed or ended. At the hearing, the judge will allow both you and the Respondent to speak and may even listen to other witnesses to decide if your PPO should be changed or ended. Lawyers can participate in the hearing.
To learn more, read Responding to a Motion Regarding Your Personal Protection Order.
Either the Petitioner or the Respondent in a PPO case can ask the judge to change or end the PPO. To do this, use our Do-It-Yourself Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate a Personal Protection Order (PPO) tool to prepare your motion. For instructions on how to file and what to do afterwards, go to the toolkit I Need to Change or End My Personal Protection Order and read the Checklist.
The abuser can be arrested for behavior that violates your PPO even if you agree to it. Also, the judge may question whether you are actually afraid of the abuser if you agree to a PPO violation. If you want to change or end your PPO before it expires, you must go back to court and file a motion asking the judge to change or end your PPO.
Questions about Custody and Parenting Time and PPOs
No. A PPO can’t be used to award custody of children. In some situations your PPO can limit or prohibit contact between the abuser and your children. The judge may order this if they think it is important for your safety or your children’s safety.
Yes. Domestic violence is serious. It is one of 12 factors the judge must consider when making custody and parenting time decisions. However, the judge might not necessarily give special weight to the domestic violence factor.
If your child's other parent has abused you, it may be a good idea to hire a lawyer. If you have low income, you may qualify for free legal services. Whether you have low income or not, use the Guide to Legal Help to find lawyers and legal services in your area.
Yes. Domestic violence is one of 12 factors the judge must consider when making custody and parenting time decisions. This is true even if:
- The violence was not directed at the children; and
- The children did not witness the abuse.
Children can be harmed by domestic violence even if it’s not directed against them.
The court can consider domestic violence even if your children didn’t witness it.
It is possible for the judge to award joint custody if the other parent abused you. The judge must consider joint custody if either parent asks for it. There are 12 factors the judge must look at to decide what custody arrangement is in your child's best interests. Domestic violence is just one of those factors.
The judge must also decide whether you and the other parent can make parenting decisions together. If your spouse has been abusive, this may be harder to do.
If the other parent abused you, it may be a good idea to get help from a lawyer. If you have low income, you may qualify for free legal services. Whether or not you have low income, use the Guide to Legal Help to find lawyers and legal services in your area.
Your children most likely have a bond with their other parent. This may be true even if the other parent has been violent towards you. Think about what type of parenting time is best under all of the circumstances – not just based on how your children feel.
If there is a court order for unsupervised parenting time, you must follow it. You must do this unless the judge changes it or another court order prohibits it. If you think unsupervised visitation isn’t safe, consider talking to a lawyer.
If you need a lawyer and have low income, you may qualify for free legal help. You can use the Guide to Legal Help to look for legal help in your area. Your local domestic violence shelter may also be able to help you find a lawyer.
If the abuser is your child’s other parent and has a parenting time order, you must follow the parenting time order unless the judge changes it, or the PPO says the abuser is not allowed to see or contact your child.
If the PPO prevents the abuser from contacting you in any way, the abuser can’t communicate with you about parenting time. You may want to ask a third person to help arrange parenting time. This should be a neutral third person who is not involved in the conflict between you and the abuser. This way, the third person can contact you about any parenting time issues, and the abuser won’t violate the PPO. For example, if the abuser is running late to pick up your child, the third person can let you know. Or if the abuser is not allowed to be at your home or in your sight, they might need the third person to pick up and drop off the child for parenting time. Also, if you need to get a message to the abuser about parenting time, you can pass it on through the third person.
If you do not have someone who can help in this way, the Friend of the Court may be able to suggest other resources. To find the phone number for the Friend of the Court in your county, go to the Courts & Agencies section of the Michigan Legal Help website.
If you want the other parent to be able to contact you directly only to arrange parenting time, you can ask the Court to allow this limited contact in your Petition for a PPO. If you already have a PPO, you can ask the Court to change it to allow only this contact in a Motion to Modify, Extend, or Terminate a Personal Protection Order.
It depends. If you feel safe working out the parenting time schedule with the other parent, it’s probably okay to have a flexible schedule. Otherwise, you may need a specific schedule.
Consider asking for supervised parenting time if:
- You're worried about your safety;
- You're worried about your children’s safety; or
- The other parent has threatened to keep your children from you.
The court will appoint the supervisor, but you may want to provide ideas for possible supervisors. Examples include:
- A visitation center
- A domestic violence agency
- A grandparent
- Another relative
- A friend
Parenting time may also be safer for you if you exchange your children in a public place.
Under Michigan law, parental kidnapping is a felony. But it only applies to a parent who takes or keeps their child from the other parent in violation of a valid custody or parenting time order. It is not parental kidnapping for you to take your child with you to a domestic violence shelter if there is no custody order.
Even if there is a custody order, you can move to a safe place with your child to get away from the threat of domestic violence. However, you may need to get the judge's approval to change your child's residence. For more information, read the Articles and Common Questions in the I Need to Move with My Children toolkit.
If you fear the other parent might take your children out of the country, file a motion asking the court to hold your children’s passports. If your children don’t have passports, contact the U.S. State Department to put an alert on your children’s names. If the other parent plans to get passports to travel out of the country with your children, the State Department will give you advanced warning.
Children with dual citizenship may be able to travel on a passport from the other country. The State Department can’t regulate passports from another country. Contact that country’s embassy or consulate to ask if they have a similar program.
But if the other parent has sole legal custody and has filed a motion asking the court for permission to move out of the country permanently, the court may grant that motion. See the article Responding to a Motion to Change Domicile for more information.