Key points
- All criminal cases prosecuted in Allegan County are filed at the 57th District Court, 113 Chestnut St., Allegan, which handles misdemeanors through sentencing and felonies through the preliminary exam.[1]
- Felonies continue in the 48th Judicial Circuit Court at the same address.[2][3]
- PPO forms are filed with the Circuit Court Records Division of the County Clerk's Office on the main level of the Allegan County Courthouse, and there is no filing fee.[4]
- Sylvia's Place answers a 24/7 crisis line at 269-673-8700, and Resilience answers a 24-hour help line at 1-800-848-5991.[5][6]
Allegan County has one district court for the whole county and one courthouse address to remember. All criminal cases prosecuted in the county, including domestic assault, are filed at the 57th District Court, 113 Chestnut St., Allegan.[1] The 48th Judicial Circuit Court, which takes felonies after the district court stage, is at the same address.[2][3]
If you are in danger, call 911. Sylvia's Place answers a 24/7 crisis line at 269-673-8700, and Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence answers a 24-hour help line at 1-800-848-5991.[5][6] Two other numbers work from any county: Michigan's VOICES4 hotline (call or text 855-864-2374) and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233).[7][8]
The county can change hours or procedures without notice. Confirm with the clerk's office by phone before you drive to Allegan.
The 57th District Court: every Allegan County criminal case starts here
By statute the 57th District consists of the county of Allegan and has 2 judges.[9] There is no city-by-city split to work out: an arrest in any city, village or township in the county leads to the same court, because all criminal cases prosecuted within the county are filed there.[1]
| Court | Address | Phone | What it does in a criminal case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57th District Court | 113 Chestnut St., Allegan, MI 49010 | (269) 673-0400 | Misdemeanor cases from arraignment through sentencing; felony cases from arraignment through preliminary exam[1] |
| 48th Judicial Circuit Court | 113 Chestnut St., Allegan, MI 49010 | (269) 673-0300 | Felonies from the bindover[2][3] |
The district court's hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15am to 5:00pm, and the court's own list of example criminal cases includes "Domestic Violence."[1]
Where and how a PPO is filed in Allegan County
A personal protection order (PPO) is a civil order from the circuit court. In Allegan County all personal protection forms are filed with the Circuit Court Records Division of the County Clerk's Office on the main level of the Allegan County Courthouse, and there is no filing fee.[4]
The county's instructions on service are specific:
- The petitioner is responsible for having the respondent served.[4]
- The petitioner cannot serve the respondent personally; a process server or another person over the age of 18, such as a friend or relative, has to complete personal service.[4]
- Certified mail, with delivery restricted to the respondent only, is the other listed method.[4]
The county's page names no free PPO assistance office. Under state law the court provides the forms without charge and may help a person complete them and explain service, but may not give legal assistance.[10] Resilience and Sylvia's Place can be asked what advocacy they offer. The petition itself is explained in How to get a PPO in Michigan, and a respondent's options are in Served with a PPO.
Local help in Allegan County
Resilience states that its mission is to respond to, reduce and prevent domestic and sexual violence in Ottawa and Allegan counties, and it publishes a Spanish-language line at 1-866-728-2131.[6] Its support is described as free and confidential.[6] The statewide VOICES4 hotline is staffed 24/7 and is free, confidential and anonymous.[11] See Where to get help in West Michigan for more.
Legal Aid of Western Michigan helps with civil legal problems only, record expungements aside; its intake number for Allegan County is 616-394-1380.[12][13] Anyone charged with a crime and facing possible jail is entitled to a lawyer, and one is appointed for a person who cannot afford to hire one.[14]
A regional veterans docket
The 57th District Court hosts the West Michigan Regional Veterans Treatment Court, a collaboration of Allegan, Ottawa and Van Buren counties, the State of Michigan and the Veterans Administration that focuses on substance abuse and mental health treatment; its phone is 269.673.0347.[15] The county's page does not say whether a domestic violence charge is eligible. See Specialty courts and domestic violence.
Allegan County domestic violence numbers
The Michigan State Police recorded 874 domestic violence victims in Allegan County in 2025, 849 in 2024, 997 in 2023, 1,002 in 2022 and 974 in 2021.[16] In 2025, 632 were recorded as non-aggravated assault victims and 70 as aggravated or felonious assault victims.[16] The figures count incidents an investigating officer marked as domestic violence, across family and household relationships as well as dating partners.[17][18]
From arrest to the first court date
A person arrested without a warrant for domestic assault cannot be released on a bond set at the police station; the person is held until arraignment or until a judge or district court magistrate sets an interim bond.[19] The statute gives no fixed number of hours for that hold.[20] A judge or magistrate who sets the interim bond has to consider a condition barring any contact with the victim.[21] Those steps are covered in How long are you held after an arrest? and No-contact orders explained, and the rest of the case in the misdemeanor case timeline.
Common questions
Which court handles a domestic assault charge in Allegan County?
The 57th District Court. All criminal cases prosecuted within Allegan County are filed there, whichever city or township is involved.[1] The district is the whole county by statute.[9] The court is at 113 Chestnut St., Allegan, MI 49010, phone (269) 673-0400.[1]
Where do I file a PPO in Allegan County?
With the Circuit Court Records Division of the County Clerk's Office, on the main level of the Allegan County Courthouse. The county states there is no filing fee.[4] A PPO is a circuit court matter, so the petition is not filed with the district court's criminal division.[22]
Who serves the PPO on the respondent in Allegan County?
The county tells petitioners that they are responsible for having the respondent served and cannot serve the respondent themselves. Service can be made personally by a process server or another adult over 18, or by certified mail with delivery restricted to the respondent.[4] The order itself is effective once a judge signs it.[23]
Is there a domestic violence shelter in Allegan County?
Sylvia's Place describes itself as Allegan County's only domestic violence safe house, and its 24/7 crisis line is 269-673-8700.[5] Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence also serves Allegan County, with a 24-hour help line at 1-800-848-5991.[6]
Sources
- Allegan County, 57th District Court, "Criminal Division" — allegancounty.org
- Allegan County, "48th Circuit Court" — allegancounty.org
- MCR 6.008(A)–(B) — Michigan Courts
- Allegan County, Records Division, "Personal Protection Orders" — allegancounty.org
- Sylvia's Place, sylviasplace.com — sylviasplace.com
- Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence, resiliencemi.org — resiliencemi.org
- State of Michigan, VOICES4 Hotline — Domestic Violence page — State of Michigan
- National Domestic Violence Hotline, thehotline.org (home page) — National Domestic Violence Hotline
- MCL 600.8127 — Michigan Legislature
- MCL 600.2950b(4) — Michigan Legislature
- MCEDSV, Hotline page — mcedsv.org
- Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Services — lawestmi.org
- Legal Aid of Western Michigan, I Need Help (Apply by Phone) — lawestmi.org
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, FAQ — michiganidc.gov
- Allegan County, "WMRVTC" — allegancounty.org
- Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab (County = Allegan) — Michigan State Police
- Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab (2021–2025 frozen data) — Michigan State Police
- Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab — Michigan State Police
- MCL 780.582a(1)(a) — Michigan Legislature
- MCL 780.582a(1) — Michigan Legislature
- MCL 780.582a(2) — Michigan Legislature
- MCL 600.1021(1)(k) — Michigan Legislature
- MCL 600.2950(9); MCL 600.2950a(9); MCR 3.705(A)(4); MCR 3.706(D) — Michigan Legislature
This page is general legal information about Michigan law, published by the office of Attorney Shawn Haff. It is not legal advice and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts — check the sources linked above and talk to a licensed Michigan attorney about your situation. If you are in danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.