Know the Laws: Michigan
UPDATED December 30, 2008
A PPO is a civil order that provides protection from harm by a family member, household member, someone you have a child in common with, or someone you have dated or are dating.
- Basic Information
- Can I get a Personal Protection Order?
- What are the steps for getting a PPO?
- After the Hearing
Basic Information
back to topWhat is the legal definition of domestic violence in Michigan?
This section defines domestic violence for the purposes of getting a personal protection order.
Domestic violence occurs when a family member, household member, someone you have a child in common with, or someone you have dated or are dating:
- assaults, sexually assaults, attacks, beats, molests, or wounds you
- threatens to kill or physically harm you
- stalks you
- interferes with your freedom, such as physically keeping you from leaving your home or kidnapping you
- puts in you fear of physical harm, through words or actions.
To read the exact wording of the statute, please see Section 2950 on our MI statutes page.
back to topWhat is a domestic relationship personal protection order (PPO)?
"Domestic relationship personal protection order" is the name Michigan uses for restraining orders in cases of domestic violence. A domestic relationship personal protection order (PPO) is a civil court order that is designed to stop violent and harassing behavior and to protect you and your family from an abuser.
back to topHow can a domestic relationship PPO help me?
In a domestic relationship personal protection order, a judge may order the abuser to:
- Stop assaulting, sexually assaulting, attacking, beating, molesting or wounding you;
- Stop threatening to kill or physically injure you;
- Stop stalking you;
- Stop contacting you or harassing you at your work place, residence, school, day care (you must specifically request these places);
- Surrender any and all firearms and firearm identification cards to the police.
- If there are guns involved in your case, the National Center on Full Faith and Credit (1-800-903-0111) may be able to help you find a lawyer to help you with your case.
A domestic relationship PPO may also:
- Grant you temporary custody of your child;
- Prevent the abuser from interfering with your efforts to remove your children or personal property from the abusers home or apartment;
- Protect, or "impound", your address if you moved to escape abuse, so the abuser does not find out where you are;
- Other reasonable requests that the judge believes are necessary in order for you to be free from the violence.*
Whether a judge orders any or all of the above depends on the facts of your case.
* MCLA 600.2950 (1)(a-j)