In divorce situations, stress runs high and emotions can turn destructive. An otherwise rational person may reach his or her breaking point and act in ways that harm, or threaten to harm you. You may be involved in an abusive relationship, and need some form of legal protection from domestic violence for you or your children. A Michigan Personal Protection Order (PPO) can be a helpful aid to those who are abused. A Personal Protection Order is a court order, serving much like a restraining order. If you have good reason to fear for your safety or your children’s safety, please contact me. I am here to help you understand your options, counsel you about the ramifications Personal Protection Orders have on both you and the respondent, and advise you on issues concerning Michigan domestic violence laws. You do not need a lawyer to file a request for a Michigan Personal Protection order. The following information is presented to help you right now should you need to take action against the threat or the reality of domestic violence. If you believe you are in immediate danger, call your local law enforcement agency (dial 911) Be prepared to provide the police officer an account of the abuser’s actions, and why you are afraid. If you or your children are being threatened, do not hesitate to take this action. Filing for Michigan Personal Protection OrdersIf you feel threatened or intimidated by your spouse, or are in an abusive relationship, you may file an action for a Personal Protection Order (PPO) through the courts. The court will notify the other person (the respondent) that you have filed for a PPO and will hold a hearing in which the order will either be granted or denied. Emergency (Ex Parte) Michigan Personal Protection OrderIf you are in a crisis, Michigan domestic violence laws allow you to get a Personal Protection Order on your own on an emergency basis. This is called an ex parte order and is secured from the court. When you file for an ex parte protection order, you do not have to provide notice to the other person first. If the ex parte order is granted by the court, it is done so without a hearing and the other person has a limited number of days to object and demand a hearing. If the ex parte protection order is not granted, the court will set a hearing to determine whether the order is necessary. Most personal protection orders in Michigan are issued ex parte. Where To Go To File a Personal Protection Order in Southeast Michigan:Oakland County
Personal Protection Order Office
Oakland County Courthouse
1200 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, Michigan 48341
Phone: (248) 975-9511 or (248) 858-0117 Wayne County
Wayne County City-County building
Office of the Wayne County Clerk
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Phone: (313) 224-6262 Macomb County
Macomb County Clerk’s Office
40 North Main
Mount Clemens, Michigan 48043
Phone: (586) 469-5205
LivingstonCounty
LivingstonCounty Circuit Court Clerk
Judicial Building, Suite 4
204 S. Highlander Way
Howell, Michigan 48843
Phone: (517) 546-9816 Genesee County
Genesee County Clerk’s Office
900 S. Saginaw St.
Flint, Michigan. 48502
Phone: (810) 257-3610 Lapeer County
Lapeer County Courthouse
Circuit Court Clerk’s office
255 Clay Street
Lapeer, Michigan 48446
Phone: (810) 667-0358 What Will a Michigan Personal Protection Order Do?Personal protection actions can require the person you want restrained to stop threatening you or causing physical or mental harm to you and your children or anyone who lives with you. A Personal Protection Order can also tell someone to stay away from your home or workplace, move out, stop calling, restrain them from removing a minor child, limit their parenting time, give up a firearm, release or return certain property, or pay some or all of your attorney fees. A Personal Protection Order is enforceable throughout Michigan once it is signed by the judge. When the PPO is served, it is enforceable in any state in the U.S. You can ask any police officer or other law enforcement officer to make the respondent do what the court order says. If domestic violence has occurred because of the breakdown in your marriage, it may be wise to coordinate the filing of a Personal Protection Order along with the filing of your divorce.
Contact me about Michigan Personal Protection Orders. I will answer your questions with straight talk and help you find proper solutions for this and other serious divorce issues. |