You are filing to protect an individual who is under a legal guardianship or who is less than 18 years old.  Because that person is under a legal guardianship or is a minor child, they need what is called a “Next Friend” to file for the PPO on their behalf.  This is a legally competent person who is at least 18 years old and is typically a guardian, caregiver, or relative.  

 

 

In order to file for a PPO on behalf of a minor child or a legally incapacitated adult, you will need to complete five documents and you will need to write a statement about why the child or legally incapacitated adult needs a PPO.  Typically, you will write the statement (unless the minor is old enough or the adult is able to write their own statement).  You can either use our statement packet or you may write or type a statement out on blank sheets of paper.  Do not write on the back of any pages.  For tips on what to include in your statement, click here.

 

The first document you will need to complete is the Request for Next Friend and Order.

1. You will list the names of the parties at the top:

   1. Petitioner = the minor child or legally incapacitated adult (NOTE: This is different from how petitioner will be written in the next 4 forms)

   2. Respondent = the person you are filing against (that is, the person you want the child or legally incapacitated adult to be protected from).

2. Next, go down to the section called Request For Next Friend

   1. Complete questions 1-3:

      1. List the Petitioner’s name on line 1 and check the box ‘minor’ or ‘incompetent/legally incapacitated individual’.  

      2. List the name of the person who will file on behalf of the Petitioner on line 2 (this is the proposed Next Friend).  If the Petitioner is a minor child and is 14 years old or older, the minor should date and sign on line 2. If the Petitioner is a legally incapacitated adult or a minor less than 14 years old, the minor’s next of kin, relative, or friend should sign and date on line 2.

      3. The proposed Next Friend (that is, the person whose name is listed on line 2) should sign and date on line 3.

3. Leave the rest of the form BLANK.

 

Your next 4 documents will depend on what type of PPO you are filing for the minor child or legally incapacitated adult. 

 

KEEP IN MIND 3 THINGS WITH THE OTHER 4 FORMS:

 

1. When you are completing the other 4 forms, anywhere a signature is required, it must be the signature of the proposed Next Friend (again, the person whose name is listed on line 2 of the Request for Next Friend). 

 

​

  2. Anywhere it is required to name the petitioner in the other 4 forms, the petitioner will be listed using            the following format:

 

[Proposed Next Friend’s Name] Next Friend of [Minor Child’s Name]

or

[Proposed Next Friend’s Name] NF of [Minor Child’s Name]

 

 

For example, if Jan Jones, an adult, is filing for a PPO on behalf of Sam Jones who is 12 years old, the Petitioner section will be completed as follows:

 

 

Jan Jones Next Friend of Sam Jones

or

Jan Jones NF of Sam Jones

 

Everything else about the petitioner will be about the minor child or legally incapacitated adult (for example, if it asks for the petitioner’s age, list the child or legally incapacitated adult’s age, not the Next Friend’s age).

​

   3. You will check the box on the bottom of the PPO petition, which state: “I have a next friend petitioning          for me…”

 

 

What type of PPO do you need to file for the minor child or legally incapacitated adult? 

Click here to determine the PPO type based on the child’s or the legally incapacitated adult’s relationship with the person you are filing against.  Click on the proper link to take you to the next 4 forms you will need to file, keeping in mind the information, above, about how to write petitioner’s name on those forms.