How to Get a Restraining Order in Michigan
In Michigan these are called Personal Protection Order (PPO): Domestic Relationship PPO, Non-Domestic Stalking PPO, and Non-Domestic Sexual Assault PPO. A protective order is a court order that tells someone to stop abusing, threatening, stalking or contacting you. Here is how to ask for one, what happens next, and where to get free help — each rule linked to the statute or official court page.
Quick answers for Michigan
- Cost
- There is no fee to file the petition. Some police and sheriff's departments serve PPOs free of charge, but some do not. MDHHS VOICES4 PPO FAQ
- Emergency / temporary orders
- The court must issue an ex parte PPO without notice to the respondent if specific facts show that immediate and irreparable injury would result from the delay of giving notice, or that notice itself would provoke harm. MCL 600.2950(9), (12), (13)
- Where to ask
- File a petition with the county clerk's office for the circuit court (family division) in any Michigan county; you do not have to live in the county where you file. MCL 600.2950(1), (3); MDHHS VOICES4 PPO FAQ
Last verified: 2026-10-25
Safety first
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- You can talk to a trained advocate any time, for free and confidentially, through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Advocates can help you make a safety plan and fill out the court forms. Many courts have advocates on site.
- Keep copies of the order with you. Give copies to people who need to know, such as your workplace or your child's school.
Getting an order
| Types of orders | Three kinds of Personal Protection Orders: Domestic Relationship PPO; Non-Domestic Stalking PPO; and Non-Domestic Sexual Assault PPO. Any of them can be issued 'ex parte' (without notice) in an emergency, or after a hearing. Separate petition forms are used when the respondent is a minor. |
|---|---|
| Who can ask for an order | A Domestic Relationship PPO protects you from a spouse or former spouse, someone you have a child with, someone you are dating or used to date, or someone you live or used to live with. Non-domestic PPOs cover stalking or sexual assault by anyone. A PPO can be sought against someone age 10 or older, but parents cannot get a PPO against their own child under 18, and children under 18 cannot get one against a parent. |
| Where to ask | File a petition with the county clerk's office for the circuit court (family division) in any Michigan county; you do not have to live in the county where you file. You may leave your home address off the papers and give the court a mailing address instead. |
| Cost | There is no fee to file the petition. Some police and sheriff's departments serve PPOs free of charge, but some do not. Source: MDHHS VOICES4 PPO FAQ |
Emergency orders and the hearing
| Emergency / temporary orders | The court must issue an ex parte PPO without notice to the respondent if specific facts show that immediate and irreparable injury would result from the delay of giving notice, or that notice itself would provoke harm. A PPO is effective and enforceable anywhere in Michigan as soon as a judge signs it. An ex parte PPO is valid for at least 182 days. Source: MCL 600.2950(9), (12), (13) |
|---|---|
| Serving the order | You cannot serve the PPO yourself. It can be served in person by another adult not involved in the case, by registered or certified mail (restricted delivery), or by the sheriff, police, or a process server. If police respond to a violation and the respondent has not been served, the officer can serve or notify the respondent on the spot. File a proof of service with the clerk afterward. |
| The court hearing | If you do not ask for an ex parte order (or the judge requires a hearing first), a hearing is held and the respondent must be served with the petition and a notice of hearing (form CC 381). After an ex parte PPO, the respondent may move to modify or rescind it within 14 days after service, and the court schedules that hearing within 14 days after the motion is filed (5 days for certain respondents who must carry a firearm for work). |
What the order does
| What an order can require | A PPO can bar the respondent from entering your home or other premises; assaulting, threatening, stalking or harassing you; removing children from the person with legal custody (except as allowed by a custody order); purchasing or possessing a firearm; interfering with you at work or school; harming, taking or keeping an animal you own; getting your address from a child's records; and any other conduct that interferes with your personal liberty or causes reasonable fear of violence. Source: MCL 600.2950(1) |
|---|---|
| Firearms | A PPO can prohibit the respondent from purchasing or possessing a firearm. If it does, the clerk notifies the county clerk of the respondent's county of residence. You should tell the court if the respondent must carry a firearm for work (for example, a police officer). Source: MCL 600.2950(1)(e), (2), (15)(d) |
| If the order is violated | Call 911 or local police. A respondent 17 or older who violates a PPO faces immediate arrest and criminal contempt: up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500, in addition to penalties for any other crime. Respondents under 17 are handled in juvenile court. If police do not arrest, you can file a motion to show cause with the court. Source: MCL 600.2950(11)(a), (23) |
Children and privacy
| Minors and children | A petitioner under 18 may need an adult 'next friend' to file for them. Children under 18 cannot get a PPO against a parent, and parents cannot get one against their own minor child. Separate petition forms are used when the respondent is a minor, and those cases follow juvenile-court rules. |
|---|---|
| Keeping your address private | Michigan's Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), run by the Department of Attorney General, gives victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking a designated substitute address and free mail forwarding. You apply through a certified application assistant or victim advocate; if none is available, call 313-456-0190 and ask for an Address Confidentiality Advocate. |
Forms and help in Michigan
- Michigan courts: protective order help
- Official Michigan protective order forms
- MDHHS VOICES4 Hotline (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
- Free legal aid in Michigan
Michigan protective order FAQ
What kinds of protective orders are available in Michigan?
Three kinds of Personal Protection Orders: Domestic Relationship PPO; Non-Domestic Stalking PPO; and Non-Domestic Sexual Assault PPO. Any of them can be issued 'ex parte' (without notice) in an emergency, or after a hearing. Separate petition forms are used when the respondent is a minor.
Who can get a restraining order in Michigan?
A Domestic Relationship PPO protects you from a spouse or former spouse, someone you have a child with, someone you are dating or used to date, or someone you live or used to live with. Non-domestic PPOs cover stalking or sexual assault by anyone. A PPO can be sought against someone age 10 or older, but parents cannot get a PPO against their own child under 18, and children under 18 cannot get one against a parent.
Where do I file for a restraining order in Michigan?
File a petition with the county clerk's office for the circuit court (family division) in any Michigan county; you do not have to live in the county where you file. You may leave your home address off the papers and give the court a mailing address instead.
Does it cost money to get a restraining order in Michigan?
There is no fee to file the petition. Some police and sheriff's departments serve PPOs free of charge, but some do not.
How fast can I get an emergency protective order in Michigan?
The court must issue an ex parte PPO without notice to the respondent if specific facts show that immediate and irreparable injury would result from the delay of giving notice, or that notice itself would provoke harm. A PPO is effective and enforceable anywhere in Michigan as soon as a judge signs it. An ex parte PPO is valid for at least 182 days.
What happens at the restraining order hearing in Michigan?
If you do not ask for an ex parte order (or the judge requires a hearing first), a hearing is held and the respondent must be served with the petition and a notice of hearing (form CC 381). After an ex parte PPO, the respondent may move to modify or rescind it within 14 days after service, and the court schedules that hearing within 14 days after the motion is filed (5 days for certain respondents who must carry a firearm for work).
What can a protective order do in Michigan?
A PPO can bar the respondent from entering your home or other premises; assaulting, threatening, stalking or harassing you; removing children from the person with legal custody (except as allowed by a custody order); purchasing or possessing a firearm; interfering with you at work or school; harming, taking or keeping an animal you own; getting your address from a child's records; and any other conduct that interferes with your personal liberty or causes reasonable fear of violence.
Does a protective order affect firearms in Michigan?
A PPO can prohibit the respondent from purchasing or possessing a firearm. If it does, the clerk notifies the county clerk of the respondent's county of residence. You should tell the court if the respondent must carry a firearm for work (for example, a police officer).
How is a restraining order served in Michigan?
You cannot serve the PPO yourself. It can be served in person by another adult not involved in the case, by registered or certified mail (restricted delivery), or by the sheriff, police, or a process server. If police respond to a violation and the respondent has not been served, the officer can serve or notify the respondent on the spot. File a proof of service with the clerk afterward.
What happens if someone violates a protective order in Michigan?
Call 911 or local police. A respondent 17 or older who violates a PPO faces immediate arrest and criminal contempt: up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500, in addition to penalties for any other crime. Respondents under 17 are handled in juvenile court. If police do not arrest, you can file a motion to show cause with the court.
Can a minor get a restraining order in Michigan?
A petitioner under 18 may need an adult 'next friend' to file for them. Children under 18 cannot get a PPO against a parent, and parents cannot get one against their own minor child. Separate petition forms are used when the respondent is a minor, and those cases follow juvenile-court rules.
Can I keep my address confidential in Michigan?
Michigan's Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), run by the Department of Attorney General, gives victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking a designated substitute address and free mail forwarding. You apply through a certified application assistant or victim advocate; if none is available, call 313-456-0190 and ask for an Address Confidentiality Advocate.
Protective orders in other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.