Personal Protection Order Lawyer in Lansing MI

Domestic relationship personal protection orders involve current or former spouses, people who dated, individuals who share a child, or people who lived together. These orders commonly arise during divorce proceedings, custody battles, or after breakups. We defend against PPO petitions based on domestic violence allegations, threats made during arguments, property destruction claims, and harassment accusations. Our defense strategies include presenting communications that show the full context, demonstrating that conduct didn’t meet the legal standard, and exposing fabricated claims designed to gain advantage in family court. We’ve successfully defended clients facing domestic PPO petitions in Lansing by showing judges that allegations were exaggerated or false.

Anti-stalking personal protection orders (ASOs) address conduct involving unwanted following, repeated unwanted contact, or threatening behavior toward someone you don’t have a domestic relationship with. These cases often involve neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, or strangers. Common allegations include sending too many text messages, showing up at someone’s workplace, following someone in public, or making social media contact after being told to stop. We defend against stalking PPOs by demonstrating that contact was lawful, that you had legitimate reasons for being in the same location, that communications were misinterpreted, or that the petitioner encouraged contact. Many ASO petitions in the greater Lansing area are filed over misunderstandings or situations where both parties engaged in similar behavior.

Protection orders involving minors require special attention because they can affect custody arrangements, parenting time, school access, and youth activities. Parents sometimes face PPO petitions from their own children during contentious divorces or when teenagers disagree with household rules. We also defend adults falsely accused of threatening or harassing minors, including teachers, coaches, and neighbors. These cases demand sensitivity and thorough investigation because false allegations can destroy reputations and careers. Our team carefully examines the circumstances, interviews witnesses, and presents evidence showing the true nature of interactions. We’ve helped clients in Lansing and East Lansing maintain relationships with their children while fighting unwarranted protection orders.

Violating a personal protection order is a separate criminal offense in Michigan that can result in jail time, fines, and additional restrictions. PPO violation charges often stem from misunderstandings about what the order prohibits, situations where the protected party initiated contact, or false claims that contact occurred. We defend clients facing PPO violation charges in the 54A District Court and 54B District Court by examining phone records, text messages, witness statements, and surveillance footage. Many alleged violations never actually happened or involved mutual contact that shouldn’t result in criminal charges. We also defend against related charges including domestic violence, assault and battery, stalking, and harassment that often accompany PPO cases.

A typical PPO prohibits you from contacting the protected party directly or indirectly, coming within a certain distance of them, going to their home or workplace, and sometimes prohibits possessing firearms.

This means you must surrender any guns you own, and you cannot obtain a concealed pistol license. The federal government also prohibits firearm possession for anyone subject to a domestic relationship protection order under 18 USC 922(g)(8). This restriction lasts as long as the order remains in effect and can affect your career if you work in law enforcement, security, or any field requiring firearms.

Protection orders often appear on background checks, affecting your ability to get hired, maintain professional licenses, rent apartments, or work in certain industries. Employers may terminate workers subject to PPOs, especially in positions requiring security clearances or working with vulnerable populations.

If the protected party is your child’s other parent or your own child, the PPO can result in supervised parenting time, temporary loss of custody, or complete suspension of contact until the order is resolved. Family courts in Lansing often issue emergency custody orders based on PPO petitions, and these restrictions can continue even after the PPO case concludes.

Violating a protection order is a criminal misdemeanor in Michigan punishable by up to 93 days in jail, fines up to $500, or both for a first offense. Second violations become felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and fines up to $1,000. Third and subsequent violations carry penalties of up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000. These penalties stack on top of any other criminal charges you face, such as domestic violence or stalking charges.

PPOs damage reputations, strain family relationships, create conflict in divorce and custody cases, limit where you can live and work, and cause emotional and financial stress. Even if you ultimately win your case, the process of defending against a PPO costs time, money, and peace of mind. This is why early aggressive defense matters so much.

MCL 600.2950 authorizes domestic relationship PPOs when the petitioner shows they’ve been subjected to conduct including assault, battery, threats of harm, harassment, stalking, property destruction, interference with liberty, or placing them in reasonable fear of such conduct. The law requires the petitioner to demonstrate both that prohibited conduct occurred and that they have reasonable apprehension it will continue. This two-part test creates opportunities for defense.

Common legal defenses to personal protection orders in Lansing include insufficient evidence, where the petitioner cannot prove prohibited conduct occurred or provide specific facts supporting fear of future harm. Many PPO petitions contain only vague allegations or describe conduct that doesn’t meet Michigan’s legal standard. We challenge these weak petitions by demanding specific evidence and cross-examining petitioners about details they cannot provide.

Mutual conduct defenses apply when both parties engaged in similar behavior. If you and the petitioner both sent angry text messages, both showed up at the same locations, or both made complaints to police, courts in mid-Michigan may deny the PPO or issue mutual orders. We present evidence showing the petitioner engaged in the same conduct they complain about, undermining their claim to victim status.

Constitutional defenses protect your First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of movement. Not all unwanted contact constitutes harassment under Michigan law. We defend clients whose speech was protected, whose presence in public places was lawful, or whose conduct didn’t rise to the level of true threats or stalking. Courts must balance protection order laws against constitutional rights, and we hold them to that standard.

Procedural defenses address technical violations of Michigan court rules. PPO petitions must be properly served, hearings must provide adequate notice, and petitioners must follow court procedures. We’ve gotten orders dismissed based on improper service, inadequate notice, jurisdictional defects, and procedural errors. Technical defenses matter because courts must follow the law even when allegations seem serious.

False accusation defenses apply when petitioners fabricate or exaggerate claims. We see this frequently in custody disputes where one parent seeks advantage by painting the other as dangerous. We defend by presenting evidence contradicting allegations, showing the petitioner’s motive to lie, demonstrating inconsistencies in their story, and proving you couldn’t have committed alleged conduct. Aggressive cross-examination often reveals false accusers in Lansing courtrooms.

While courts can issue temporary ex parte orders without hearing from you, they must schedule a full hearing typically within 14 days where you can present your defense.

While Michigan doesn’t provide appointed attorneys for protection order cases the way it does for criminal charges, you have the right to hire a lawyer to represent you. Having an experienced personal protection order lawyer makes a tremendous difference in outcomes because most people don’t understand court procedures, evidence rules, or effective cross-examination techniques.

This includes calling witnesses, introducing text messages or emails, presenting photos or videos, testifying on your own behalf, and cross-examining the petitioner and their witnesses. Many people representing themselves in Lansing protection order hearings don’t effectively use these rights, leading to orders being issued based on one-sided stories.

This is often the most powerful tool in your defense because many PPO petitions rely entirely on the petitioner’s testimony. Effective cross-examination exposes inconsistencies, reveals exaggerations, demonstrates motive to fabricate claims, and shows judges that allegations don’t hold up under scrutiny.

If criminal charges accompany the PPO petition, you face a difficult decision about whether to testify at the PPO hearing. Anything you say can be used against you in the criminal case. An experienced attorney helps you navigate this conflict and protect your rights in both proceedings.

If a judge issues a PPO based on insufficient evidence or legal error, you can appeal to the Ingham County Circuit Court. Appeals must be filed quickly, typically within 21 days, and an attorney significantly improves your chances of success. We’ve won appeals for clients throughout the greater Lansing area by demonstrating judges misapplied the law or ignored evidence.

This may seem unfair, but protection orders are one-way restrictions. If the protected party texts, calls, or approaches you, you still cannot respond or engage. Document any contact they initiate because it may support a motion to dismiss the order, but never respond. Many PPO violations occur when people respond to contact initiated by the protected party.

No. Representing yourself at a protection order hearing is risky and usually leads to poor outcomes.

PPO hearings follow formal court procedures, involve rules of evidence, and require effective cross-examination skills most people don’t have. Judges hold unrepresented people to the same standards as attorneys. Without legal training, you likely won’t present your strongest defense, may say things that hurt your case, and will struggle to challenge the petitioner’s credibility. An experienced personal protection order lawyer in Lansing knows what evidence judges find persuasive and how to expose weak or false allegations.

The cost of hiring an attorney is far less than the cost of having a PPO on your record. Call Monument Legal for a free consultation to discuss your defense options.

Violating a personal protection order in Michigan is a criminal offense that can result in immediate arrest, jail time, and additional charges.

First violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to 93 days in jail and fines up to $500. Second violations become felonies carrying up to two years in prison. Third violations carry up to five years in prison. Even accidental violations can result in criminal charges, so you must understand exactly what the order prohibits and comply strictly.

If you’re accused of violating a PPO, contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Many alleged violations are based on misunderstandings, false claims, or situations where the protected party initiated contact. We defend PPO violation charges throughout Lansing by examining evidence and protecting your rights.

Yes. Protection orders can be dismissed or modified through several methods.

If the petitioner doesn’t appear at the hearing or fails to prove their case, the judge should dismiss the petition. If a PPO is issued, you can file a motion to modify or terminate it by showing changed circumstances or that the order was wrongly issued. The protected party can also request dismissal, though judges aren’t required to grant their request. You can appeal wrongfully issued orders to the Ingham County Circuit Court within 21 days.

We work to get PPOs dismissed, modified, and overturned on appeal for clients throughout mid-Michigan by demonstrating the orders weren’t justified under Michigan law.

Yes. Protection orders are public court records that appear on most background checks. Employers, landlords, professional licensing boards, and others who conduct background checks will see the PPO. This can affect your ability to get hired, maintain professional licenses, rent housing, and work in certain fields. This is one reason why fighting an unwarranted PPO matters so much. Even if you comply with the order and it eventually expires, having had a PPO against you can cause problems for years. If a PPO is dismissed or you win at the hearing, there’s no order on your record. This is why aggressive defense of PPO petitions is critical, not optional.

Personal protection orders in Michigan typically last a minimum of one year but can be renewed indefinitely.

The initial order specifies its duration, usually one to three years. Before the order expires, the protected party can petition for renewal without having to prove new conduct occurred. They only need to show they still have reasonable fear. Orders can be renewed multiple times, effectively making them permanent in some cases.

This is why you must fight the initial petition aggressively. Once an order is in place, getting it removed becomes much harder than preventing it from being issued in the first place. If you’re facing a PPO petition in Lansing, contact Monument Legal immediately to protect your rights and your future.

Yes. Both Michigan and federal law prohibit anyone subject to a personal protection order from possessing firearms or ammunition.

If a PPO is issued against you, you must surrender all guns you own to law enforcement or transfer them to someone legally allowed to possess them. You cannot buy guns or ammunition while the order is in effect. Michigan courts may ask at the hearing whether you own firearms, and you must answer truthfully.

Possessing guns while subject to a PPO is a separate crime that can result in federal prosecution carrying up to 10 years in prison. If you’re a gun owner facing a PPO petition, this is one more critical reason to fight the order aggressively with an experienced attorney.

You still cannot respond or engage with them even if they initiate contact. Protection orders are one-way restrictions that only limit your behavior, not theirs.

If the protected party texts, calls, shows up where you are, or otherwise contacts you, you cannot respond. Document all contact they initiate by saving messages and taking screenshots, but do not reply. This documented contact can support a motion to dismiss the order by showing the petitioner doesn’t actually fear you or is abusing the order for improper purposes. However, never respond to their contact.

Many PPO violation cases occur when people reasonably but illegally respond to contact initiated by the protected party. If you’re in this situation, contact Monument Legal to discuss how to document improper contact and potentially get the order dismissed.

Michigan law doesn’t provide for expungement of protection orders the way it allows expungement of some criminal convictions. Protection orders are civil court records, and there’s no formal process to remove them after they expire.

However, if a PPO petition is denied or dismissed, there’s no final order on your record, only records showing a petition was filed and denied. If an order was issued and later overturned on appeal or vacated, that dismissal becomes part of your record. This is another reason why preventing a PPO from being issued in the first place is so important.

Once an order exists, it remains part of public court records even after expiration. Background checks may show expired orders, though their impact diminishes over time.

In Michigan, personal protection orders and restraining orders are different legal tools. PPOs are civil orders designed to protect people from domestic violence, stalking, or harassment.

They’re issued under MCL 600.2950 and related statutes. Restraining orders are typically issued in divorce or custody cases to maintain the status quo and prevent one party from taking certain actions like removing children from the state or hiding assets. Some people use the terms interchangeably, but they’re different types of court orders with different requirements and purposes.

If someone says they’re getting a restraining order against you, they probably mean a PPO. Either way, you need an attorney to defend you and protect your rights.

No. Do not talk to police about protection order allegations without an attorney present.

Anything you say can be used against you in both the PPO hearing and any related criminal case. Police investigating PPO allegations or alleged violations are not your friends or neutral parties. Their job is to gather evidence for prosecution. You have the right to remain silent, and you should exercise that right.

Politely tell officers you want to speak with your attorney before answering questions. Then immediately call Monument Legal. We’ll protect your rights during any police investigation and ensure you don’t say anything that hurts your case. The first 48 hours after PPO allegations arise are critical, and early legal intervention protects your future.