EVE's Personal Protection Order and Mason Domestic Violence Support Unit provide support and advocacy to victims experiencing family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and/or stalking.

• What is a Personal Protection Order?

• Penalties for violating a PPO

• Types of PPO's

• How to file a PPO

• Violation

• PPO Forms 
  
  

What is a Personal Protection Order?

Personal protection orders (PPO's) are orders by the Circuit Court that forbid or require a person to do something. The person filing is the petitioner and the person against whom a PPO is filed is the respondent. 

A PPO may order the defendant not to:

• Enter your property.
• Assault, attack, beat or wound you.
• Threaten to kill or physically harm you.
• Remove children from you if you have legal custody.
• Interfere at your place of employment.
• Interfere with your efforts to remove your children or personal property.
• Contact you by telephone.
• Send you mail (including electronic mail).
• Purchase or possess a firearm.

• Maximum 93 days in jail and/or
• Maximum $500 fine.

Types of PPO's:

There are two types of PPO's 

Domestic Restraining PPO - To qualify for a restraining PPO you must establish that you have one of the following relationships with the defendant:

• A current or former marriage
• A current or former dating relationship
• A current or former common household residence
• A child in common

Stalking PPO - To qualify for a stalking PPO you are not required to show a relationship with the defendant. However, you must establish that the defendant has shown a pattern of behavior including two or more separate incidents that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested and that actually causes the person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested.


For either order you must also establish reasonable cause to believe that the respondent may commit one or more of the acts listed above. If you do not meet these requirements, you may be eligible for a "peace bond" which are available at the District Court Clerk's office. Peace Bonds are used for disputes not covered by PPO's and they can require a person to stay away from you home and you property.

How to file a PPO:

1. Provide a detailed statement
   • Date, time and location of all incidents
   • Details of injuries
   • Names of witnesses
   • Name of person to be restrained
   • Address where the person being restrained can receive mail
   • Age or date of birth of the person being restrained
   • Physical description of person to be restrained
2. Complete the PPO forms
3. File the order with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The Clerk's Office will then assign a judge to your case and send the order to the Judge who will review and make a ruling.
4. Call the PPO Office to see if the Judge's ruling is ready.
5. Pick up the order at the PPO Office.
6. Arrange for prompt service of the order.
7. File the "Proof of Service" form with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
8. Keep a copy of the order with you at all times.

Helpful Information to Include:

• A police report
• A doctor's report
• Pictures of injuries or destruction of property
• Lease or mortgage agreement
• Custody, support and/or visitation orders
• Divorce Decree
• Affidavits from witnesses

What to do if there is a violation:

If the respondent violates the PPO, immediately contact your local police or 911. When the police arrive they may arrest the respondent for violating the PPO. If no arrest is made, the police should make a report. Warrants are not issued on PPO violations. As the petitioner, you must initiate the process through a motion to show cause. This is a request submitted to the judge for a hearing to hold the respondent accountable for the violation. You may contact the PPO Office for assistance with this process. Also, when filing a PPO violation  with the police, you may also ask for a stalking complaint to be filed.

PPO Forms

Click this Link for a list of Personal Protection Order Forms

If you are in immediate danger or in need of emergency assistance, please call 911. If you are seeking support, please call our 24 Hour Crisis Line (517) 372-5572. All Calls are confidential.

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