17th Circuit Court

Circuit Court Online Services

Personal Protection Orders Department

Suite 3500
180 Ottawa NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 632-5067

The Personal Protection Office assists victims of domestic violence and victims of stalking in obtaining personal protection orders, assists the petitioning party with processing extensions, violations and assists restrained parties with the processing of making objections. In 2011, the Circuit Court processed 1,922 Petitions for Personal Protection Order.

The PPO Office will assist in making the filing process go as smoothly as possible. Please remember that you have initiated your own lawsuit, you are representing yourself in this action. The PPO staff are not attorneys, investigators, enforcers or process servers.

Criteria For PPO

The petitioner and respondent:

  • Are husband and wife and an action for annulment, divorce, or support (is/not) pending
  • Were husband and wife
  • Reside or resided in the same household
  • Have a child in common
  • Have or had an intimate dating relationship
  • Have some other family relationship
  • Are in a stalking situation as defined by:

  • MCLA 750.411(h)
    Sec. 411h. (1) As used in this section:
    (a) "Course of conduct" means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of 2 or more separate noncontinuous acts evidencing a continuity of purpose.
    (d) "Stalking" means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested.

Statutory Requirements

  • Personal Protection Orders are not for civil matters such as custody and neighbor disputes. (For help in neighbor conflict, contact the Dispute Resolution Center at 616-774-0121)
  • Petitioner must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by someone of that age or older who will consent to be petitioner's NEXT FRIEND, preferably a parent.

Forms Available

This office makes available the proper personal protection forms, provides direction for completing and filing those forms, and offers information on local sources that deal with domestic violence. The initial paperwork (the instruction sheet, petition and affidavit) can be downloaded Courts & Law Enforcement, 17th Circuit Court, Forms, documents section.

Other Requirements

  • Parties filing need to present valid picture ID (includes other State driver's license, passport or school identification)
  • A signed personal protection order must be served upon the respondent and a proof of that service needs to be filed in the case.

Hours

General walk-in office hours Monday-Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Client interviews from 9:00 to 2:30 P.M.

PPO Expiration Date

Your PPO is only in effect up to the expiration date. This is located near the bottom right of the order in RED. IF you need to extend your order, you must come in to this office approximately three weeks before the expiration date, or call (616) 632-5071 to request the paperwork to renew..

Enforcement Of Order

If a violation occurs, do not call the PPO office -- call the police. A police report is helpful, but not required to pursue a violation of the respondent through the courts. If no arrest is made and you wish to pursue the violation, contact the PPO Office for paperwork to schedule a hearing. The petitioner will need to follow the PPO conditions as well as the respondent. Please note that only the Judge may change the conditions of or dismiss the PPO.

Change Of Address

Keep the PPO office updated on any address or phone number changes for the duration of the order.

Remember:

If you have difficulty with the English language, you are advised to bring a friend or relative to assist you. If you are unable to bring a friend or relative and you still need assistance, then contact Accurate Interpreter Service at (616) 460-3126 to arrange for an interpreter to meet you at the PPO Office. You can also contact the PPO Office directly at (616) 632-5071 and the office staff will arrange for an interpreter. There is no cost to this service.

ADA Assistance - If you require assistance due to disabilities under the ADA, please contact the PPO Office prior to coming in so arrangements can be made if necessary.

The processing of the PPO generally takes 24 to 48 hours. In most cases, the petitioner may expect to return the next business day to pick up the signed order. If the order is not signed, the petitioner will be informed of the reasons for denial.

The jurisdiction for PPOs fall under the Family Division of the Circuit Court.

What to Expect

The following is what happens when you come to the Personal Protection Office to file for a Personal Protection Order:

  • Petitioner comes to the 3d floor of the courthouse to file a PPO in suite 3500.
  • Front window staff gives out the petition and affidavit with instructions on how to complete.
  • Front window staff requests and makes a copy of picture ID of Petitioner and next of friend, if required.
  • Petitioner then completes paperwork and returns it to the front window staff.
  • Front window staff attaches copy & original picture ID to completed paperwork and places in file for PPO
    Staff to interview in the order received.
  • PPO staff, prior to meeting with petitioner, will do a case look-up in the court's computer system and
    complete as much of the order as possible prior to the interview.
  • PPO staff meets with the petitioner, answers any questions and explains the petitioner's responsibilities. The
    PPO staff then completes the Order and notarizes the signature of the petitioner.
  • PPO staff makes copies of the petition, affidavit and coversheet. Places originals and copies in red folder.
  • Petitioner takes the red folder with the original and copies to the Clerk's Office, suite 2400, to open the case.
  • Clerk's office opens the case while the petitioner waits. Clerk's office keeps the original cover sheet,
    affidavit and petition. They then places the copies back in the red folder and give it back to the petitioner.
  • Petitioner returns the red folder and copies to the front window staff in suite 3500.
  • PPO staff take the paperwork to the assigned Judge for review.
  • Once the Judge has made the decision to grant or deny the PPO, it is sent back to the PPO staff.
  • PPO staff will contact the petitioner by phone as soon as they receive the signed order from the Judge. They
    will inform petitioner that their order is ready to be picked up and if it has been granted or denied.
  • After the PPO staff call, if petitioner does not pick up the signed order within 24 hours, unless a specific pick
    up date is stated by petitioner, the order will be mailed. PPO staff will let petitioner know this will happen if
    not picked up in 24 hours.
  • Petitioner must present picture ID when picking up signed PPO.