How to File a Personal Protection Order in Michigan
If you are in danger right now, call 911. If you are safe and preparing to file: there is no filing fee, and an ex parte request must be decided within one business day.
Quick Answer
How do I get a PPO in Michigan?
File a petition for a personal protection order in the circuit court — Michigan charges no filing fee. There are three types: a domestic relationship PPO (spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, or household member), a non-domestic PPO, and a stalking PPO. You can ask for an ex parte order, meaning the judge decides without the other person present first; under MCR 3.705 the court must rule on an ex parte request within one business day of the date the petition is filed. An ex parte PPO is effective when signed and entered, and the restrained person may file a motion to modify or terminate it within 14 days after being served. The petition's written description of specific incidents is what the judge decides on. Court PPO offices and domestic violence advocates help petitioners file at no cost.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a document preparation and filing-assistance service — not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, attorney representation, or create attorney-client relationships. All documents are prepared based on information you provide for educational and administrative purposes.Read full disclaimer.
The steps
1. Get safe first
If there is immediate danger, call 911. A court order is a piece of paper; police, a shelter, or a hospital is what addresses danger happening now. File the petition once you are somewhere safe.
2. Identify which type of PPO fits
A domestic relationship PPO covers a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, someone you share a child with, or a household member. A non-domestic PPO and a stalking PPO cover situations with no domestic relationship — a neighbor, coworker, or stranger engaging in repeated unwanted contact.
3. Write down specific incidents
Dates, locations, what was said, what was done, whether weapons were involved, and what you feared. Judges decide on facts, and a vague petition is the most common reason a request is denied. Attach or reference texts, voicemails, photos, and police report numbers.
4. Decide what restrictions to request
Ask for what you actually need: no contact in person, by phone, by text, by email, or through third parties; staying away from your home, workplace, school, and your children's school or day care; no following, no surveillance, no social media contact.
5. File in circuit court — there is no filing fee
PPO petitions go to circuit court, and Michigan does not charge a filing fee. Many courts have a PPO office that helps petitioners complete and file the paperwork in person, and county domestic violence advocates do the same at no cost.
6. Ask for an ex parte order if waiting is dangerous
An ex parte request asks the judge to issue the order before the other person is notified, when immediate and irreparable harm would result from the delay. MCR 3.705 requires the court to rule on an ex parte request within one business day of the filing date.
7. Make sure the order is served
The order has to be served on the restrained person to be enforced against them. The court will explain how service happens in your county. Keep a copy with you at all times.
8. Give copies to the people who need them
Your local police department, your employer's security, your children's school or day care, and anyone who manages your building. An order nobody has seen is harder to enforce quickly.
9. Know what happens next
An ex parte order takes effect when signed and entered. The restrained person may move to modify or terminate it within 14 days after being served, which can lead to a hearing. If the order is violated, call the police — violations can lead to arrest and contempt proceedings.
The three Michigan PPO types
| Type | Who it covers | Typical conduct |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic relationship PPO | Spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, household member | Assault, threats, harassment, stalking, interference with your freedom |
| Non-domestic PPO | Someone with no domestic relationship to you | Stalking-type conduct such as repeated unwanted contact causing fear |
| Stalking PPO | Anyone engaging in stalking as defined by law | Repeated following, surveillance, unwanted contact, threats |
Michigan charges no filing fee for a PPO petition. Court procedures and rules can change — the circuit court PPO office in your county is the authoritative source for local practice.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911
Do not wait for paperwork. Call 911, or go to your nearest police department or hospital. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. Michigan charges no filing fee for a personal protection order, and every county has domestic violence advocates and court PPO staff who will help you file the same day at no cost. Clear Path prepares documents — we are not an emergency service and not a law firm.
Key Terms
- Personal protection order (PPO)
- A Michigan circuit court order restraining someone from contacting, approaching, threatening, or harassing the petitioner.
- Ex parte order
- An order issued without the other party present first, when waiting would cause immediate and irreparable harm.
- Petitioner
- The person asking the court for protection.
- Respondent
- The person the order restrains.
- LEIN
- Michigan's Law Enforcement Information Network, where PPOs are entered so police can verify and enforce them.
People Also Ask
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If you are safe and want assistance putting the incidents and requested restrictions in writing, tell us what happened. Free help is also available through your circuit court's PPO office and county advocates.
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Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.