WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Michigan

Restraining Orders

View all
Updated: 
December 18, 2023

What is a domestic relationship PPO and what types are there?

“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. To qualify, you must have a specific relationship with the abuser and s/he must have committed or be likely to commit specific acts – see What is the legal definition of domestic violence in Michigan? for more information.

When you apply for your PPO, a judge can issue you an ex parte domestic relationship PPO without a full court hearing and without the abuser present. The judge has to decide whether or not to grant your request for an ex parte order within one business day of when you file the petition.2 An ex parte PPO should be issued and effective without prior notice to the abuser or his/her attorney if you can clearly show that immediate and irreversible injury, loss, or damage will result from the delay that would be required to notify the abuser or that the notice will itself cause you harm before a PPO can be issued.1 An ex parte domestic relationship PPO is valid for at least 182 days, approximately six months. The abuser can request a hearing to modify (change) or rescind (cancel) the PPO.3 If the judge issues you a PPO after this hearing, it would be called a final domestic relationship PPO.

1 MCL § 600.2950(12)
2 MCR 3.705(A)(1)
3 MCL § 600.2950(13)