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1. How do I serve the papers?

Anyone who is over the age of 18, other than you, can serve the respondent. There are 3 ways service of process can be completed:

• By Process Server: Hire a process server. Find them in the Yellow Pages or view a list of Eaton County Circuit Court Process Servers.
• By Personal Service: Have a friend or relative over the age of 18, who has no involvement in the personal protection order (PPO) request, personally hand the PPO paperwork to the person being restrained.
• By Mail: Serve the person being restrained by registered mail (return receipt requested) with delivery restricted to him/her. The registered mail package should include a copy of the notice of hearing (if it is for a Hearing Motion), a copy of the entire packet you filled out and filed with the clerk as the PPO, and a copy of the order.

2. Can the Respondent be given oral notice of the PPO?

As of July 1, 2000, a law enforcement officer or clerk of the court who has knowledge of the existence of a personal protection order (PPO) may serve the PPO on the Respondent or give oral notice of the existence of the PPO. After doing so, he/she must file a proof of service or proof of oral notice with the court.

3. What happens after the person being restrained is served with the PPO?

Once the respondent is served, you must file separate "proofs of service" that your agent has handed both the Petition for personal protection order (PPO) (either Form CC 375 (PDF), CC 375M (PDF), CC 377M (PDF), or CC 377M (PDF)) and the Court's PPO Order (either Form CC 376 (PDF), CC 380 (PDF), or CC 380M (PDF)) to the respondent. The proof of service forms for each are virtually the same, and are located on the back sides of the Petition and PPO forms. The proof of service requires information on the date, time and place where service occurred. File the completed forms with the Circuit Court Clerk.

4. When does the PPO go into effect?

The order goes into effect as soon as the judge signs it. The personal protection order (PPO) can be enforced immediately. However, if the Respondent has not yet been served with a copy of the PPO, he will be orally informed of the terms of the order by the responding police officer and given an opportunity to comply with the order.

5. How does the PPO get entered into LEIN?

The County Clerk's office is responsible for providing a copy of the order to the local police agency so that it can immediately be entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN).