Michigan Personal Protection Order (PPO) Paperwork
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 right now. If you are safe and preparing a petition, Michigan charges no filing fee for a PPO — and the petition's written description is what the judge decides on.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a non-attorney document preparation service and cannot provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created. Read full disclaimer
Quick Answer
A Michigan personal protection order, or PPO, is a circuit court order restraining someone from contacting, following, threatening, or coming near you. Michigan courts do not charge a filing fee to petition for a PPO. There are three main types: a domestic relationship PPO (spouse, former spouse, dating relationship, someone you share a child with, or a 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 filing. An ex parte PPO takes effect when signed and entered, and the restrained person can file a motion to modify or terminate it within 14 days after being served. Clear Path prepares the petition. We are not a law firm and do not appear in court.
Who qualifies for this service?
This document preparation service is a fit for Michigan residents who match the criteria below. If your situation is different, contact us and we'll tell you whether we can help or whether you should speak with an attorney.
- People seeking protection from a spouse, former spouse, or dating partner
- People who share a child with the person they need protection from
- Current or former household members
- People being stalked, harassed, or repeatedly contacted by someone with no domestic relationship
- Parents petitioning on behalf of a minor child where the court allows it
- People who already have a PPO and need it extended, modified, or terminated
How the process works
Clear, predictable steps from intake to court-ready paperwork.
Safety first
If you are in danger, call 911. If you are safe, tell us what happened and which county you're in.
We review your matter
We confirm which type of PPO fits and what the petition needs to describe.
Written quote
Flat preparation fee for our work. The court charges no filing fee for a PPO petition.
Petition prepared
A clear, chronological account of specific incidents with the restrictions you're requesting.
Filing instructions
Where to file in your circuit court, what to bring, and how the ex parte decision works.
After the order
Who needs copies, how service on the restrained person works, and what happens if it's violated.
Paperwork we organize for you
Document preparation only. We do not represent you in court.
Documents and information you'll need
- Your name, address (or a safe mailing address), and county
- The restrained person's name, address, and physical description if known
- Dates and details of specific incidents, in order
- Police report numbers, if any reports were made
- Copies of threatening texts, messages, emails, or voicemails
- Any existing court cases between you — divorce, custody, criminal
Common mistakes to avoid
Small errors can cost you weeks. Here's what we see most often.
- Writing a vague petition. Judges decide on specific incidents — dates, what was said, what was done, what you feared.
- Leaving out prior police reports, texts, voicemails, or messages that support the account.
- Asking for relief the court cannot grant on a PPO, such as property division or custody changes.
- Getting the order and never giving a copy to police, work, school, or day care.
- Not requesting the specific restrictions needed — workplace, school, social media, third-party contact.
- Assuming a PPO alone guarantees safety; it is a court order, not physical protection.
Local Michigan considerations
Michigan PPO petitions are filed in circuit court, and there is no filing fee. Courts treat ex parte requests urgently: MCR 3.705 requires the court to 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. Every Michigan county has domestic violence advocates who help petitioners file at no cost, and many circuit courts have a PPO office that assists in person — if you want that route, take it, and call us only if you want help organizing the paperwork. If your matter is contested or involves criminal charges, talk to an attorney or a prosecutor's victim advocate.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911
Do not wait for paperwork. Call 911 or go to your nearest police department or hospital. You can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788) any hour of the day. Michigan courts accept personal protection order petitions directly, with no filing fee, and local domestic violence advocates can help you file the same day at no cost. Clear Path prepares paperwork — we are not an emergency service, not a law firm, and not a substitute for calling for help.
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 the judge can issue without the other person present first, when the petition shows immediate and irreparable harm from waiting.
- Domestic relationship PPO
- A PPO against a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, or household member.
- Stalking PPO
- A PPO based on repeated unwanted contact or conduct that causes fear, available without any domestic relationship.
- Petitioner
- The person asking the court for protection.
- Respondent
- The person the order would restrain.
People Also Ask
Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Ready to get your paperwork started?
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