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Michigan Legal Resource Library · West Michigan courts, county by county

Kent County Domestic Violence Courts: Which Court Hears Your Case

Last reviewed against current Michigan law ·27 sources cited

Key points

  • Kent County has five district courts, and the one that hears a domestic assault case depends on the city or township involved: the 59th (Walker and Grandville), 61st (Grand Rapids), 62-A (Wyoming), 62-B (Kentwood) or 63rd (the rest of the county).[1]
  • Felony cases move to the 17th Circuit Court at the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids.[2][3]
  • PPO petitions go through the Kent County Personal Protection Office, 180 Ottawa NW, Suite 3500, and all requests are submitted online through TurboCourt.[4]
  • YWCA West Central Michigan answers a 24-hour helpline at (616) 454-9922, and Michigan's statewide VOICES4 hotline is 855-864-2374.[5][6]

"Kent County district court" is not one court. The county has five district courts, and a misdemeanor domestic assault case is heard in the one that covers the city or township involved.[1] Felonies finish in the 17th Circuit Court downtown, and personal protection order (PPO) petitions go through the county's Personal Protection Office in the same building.[2][4]

If you are in danger, call 911. YWCA West Central Michigan's 24-hour helpline is (616) 454-9922.[5] Statewide, Michigan's VOICES4 hotline answers calls and texts at 855-864-2374.[6] The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.[7]

This page was checked against each court's own website on October 4, 2026. Hours and suite numbers change, so confirm with the clerk of the court named on your paperwork before you go.

Which Kent County district court hears a misdemeanor domestic assault case?

The boundaries are set by statute: the 61st District is the city of Grand Rapids, the 62-A District is the city of Wyoming, the 62-B District is the city of Kentwood, and the 63rd District is the county except the cities of Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville, Wyoming and Kentwood.[8] The 59th District Court has jurisdiction in Grandville and Walker.[9]

CourtCoversAddress and phone
61st District CourtCity of Grand Rapids180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; 616-632-5700[10][11]
59th District Court (Grandville)Grandville and Walker; one court, two locations3161 Wilson Ave. SW, Grandville, MI 49418; (616) 538-9660[9]
59th District Court (Walker)Grandville and Walker; one court, two locations4343 Remembrance Road NW, Walker, MI 49534; (616) 453-5765[9]
62-A District CourtCity of Wyoming2650 DeHoop Avenue SW, Wyoming, MI 49509; criminal division 616-257-9814[8][12]
62-B District CourtCity of Kentwood4740 Walma S.E., Kentwood, Michigan 49512; 616.698.9310[8][13]
63rd District CourtThe rest of Kent County1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525; (616) 632-7770[8][14]

Kent County's own list puts these communities in the 63rd District Court: the cities of Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Lowell and Rockford, and the townships of Ada, Algoma, Alpine, Byron, Bowne, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade, Courtland, Gaines, Grand Rapids Township, Grattan, Lowell, Nelson, Oakfield, Plainfield, Solon, Sparta, Spencer, Tyrone and Vergennes, along with Casnovia Village and Kent City.[1] The county's page misspells several of these names and prints one entry only as "Lake," apparently the village of Sand Lake; if an address is near a boundary, confirm with the court clerk which court covers it.[1]

Two practical points. The 63rd District Court is on East Beltline Avenue NE, not in the downtown courthouse at 180 Ottawa.[14][2] And hours differ: the 62-A court in Wyoming closes at 12:00 pm on Fridays, and the 62-B court in Kentwood closes at noon on Fridays and stays open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.[12][13]

The 62-B court's page says it has jurisdiction over all misdemeanors committed in Kentwood and conducts the arraignment and preliminary examination in felony cases.[15] Some city cases are charged under a local ordinance rather than state law; that difference is covered in state charge vs. city ordinance.

Where do felony cases go?

A felony starts in the district court for the place involved and stays there through the preliminary examination; from the bindover it belongs to the circuit court.[3] In Kent County that is the 17th Circuit Court, at the Kent County Courthouse, 180 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, phone (616) 632-5220, open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.[2] The 61st District Court is in that same building.[11]

Where is a PPO filed in Kent County?

Not at any of the district courts. Kent County has a Personal Protection Office at 180 Ottawa NW, Suite 3500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, phone 616-632-5071, with walk-in hours Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.[4] The office helps people experiencing domestic violence or stalking obtain a PPO and also assists with extensions, reporting violations and objections from the restrained party.[4]

  • All PPO requests are submitted online through TurboCourt, using a guided interview.[4]
  • A petitioner must be 18 or older, or be accompanied by an adult who agrees to act as "Next Friend," and must show valid photo ID.[4]
  • Language interpreters are not available at the courthouse for PPO filing; the county suggests bringing a friend or relative or arranging an interpreter.[4]
  • If a violation occurs, the county says to call the police, not the PPO office; if no arrest is made, the petitioner can contact the PPO Office to schedule a court hearing.[4]
  • The signed order has to be served on the respondent, and proof of service filed with the court.[4]
  • To extend an order, the county says to file a request through TurboCourt about three weeks before it expires.[4]

The statewide rules on petitions are in How to get a PPO in Michigan; a person named in an order should read Served with a PPO.

Local help in Kent County

YWCA West Central Michigan, 25 Sheldon Ave SE, Grand Rapids, provides emergency shelter, crisis advocacy and legal assistance.[5] Safe Haven Ministries offers 24/7 help by call or text at 616.452.6664.[16] Advocates on the state's VOICES4 hotline are available 24/7, and the service is free and confidential.[17] Other agencies are listed in Where to get help in West Michigan.

A person charged with a crime that carries possible jail time is entitled to an attorney, appointed if he or she cannot afford one.[18] Legal Aid of Western Michigan, whose Kent County intake number is 616-774-0672, does not handle criminal cases, except for record expungements.[19][20] See the right to a lawyer.

Kent County domestic violence numbers

The Michigan State Police recorded 4,108 domestic violence victims in Kent County in 2025, compared with 4,664 in 2024 and 2,881 in 2021.[21] Of the 2025 total, 3,181 were recorded as victims of non-aggravated assault and 640 of aggravated or felonious assault.[21] These are incidents an investigating officer marked as domestic violence, and the count includes parents, children, siblings and other family members as well as partners.[22][23] Statewide figures are in Michigan domestic violence statistics.

What happens once the case reaches court

At a district court arraignment the defendant is told the name of the offense, the maximum sentence, and the rights to an attorney and to a trial.[24] First-offense domestic assault carries up to 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.[25] The steps that follow are laid out in the misdemeanor case timeline and the felony case timeline, and release conditions are explained in No-contact orders explained.

Common questions

Which court handles a domestic violence charge from Grand Rapids?

The 61st District Court, whose jurisdiction is the City of Grand Rapids.[10] It is at 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, with payments, filings and general check-in in Suite 1400.[11] A charge from Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker, Grandville or the rest of the county goes to a different district court.[1]

Where is the 63rd District Court?

The 63rd District Court is at 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, phone (616) 632-7770, open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.[14] It is not in the downtown courthouse. It covers the parts of Kent County outside Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville, Wyoming and Kentwood.[8]

Can I file a PPO at a Kent County district court?

No. PPO forms are filed in the family division of the circuit court, not in a district court.[26] In Kent County the Personal Protection Office at 180 Ottawa NW, Suite 3500, handles PPO requests, and the requests are submitted online through TurboCourt.[4]

How long does a Kent County PPO take?

Kent County says PPOs are usually processed within 24 to 48 hours and that most petitioners can return the next business day to pick up the signed order.[4] If the office asks for more information and the petitioner does not respond within 24 hours, the request is rejected and has to be refiled.[4]

Is there a domestic violence court in Grand Rapids?

The 61st District Court's own phone directory lists a case manager for a Domestic Violence Court within its probation staff, at 616-632-5632.[27] The court's site does not publish a description of how that docket works, so ask the court or a lawyer how it applies to a particular case.

Sources

  1. Kent County, "District Courts in Kent County" — kentcountymi.gov
  2. Kent County, "17th Circuit Court" / "Personal Protection Orders" (contact block) — kentcountymi.gov
  3. MCR 6.008(A)–(B) — Michigan Courts
  4. Kent County, "Personal Protection Orders" — kentcountymi.gov
  5. YWCA West Central Michigan, ywcawcmi.org — ywcawcmi.org
  6. State of Michigan, VOICES4 Hotline — Domestic Violence page — State of Michigan
  7. National Domestic Violence Hotline, thehotline.org (home page) — National Domestic Violence Hotline
  8. MCL 600.8130 — Michigan Legislature
  9. City of Grandville, "59th District Court" — cityofgrandville.com
  10. 61st District Court, "Jurisdiction & Map" — grcourt.org
  11. 61st District Court, "Address & Map"; site footer — grcourt.org
  12. City of Wyoming, "62A District Court" — wyomingmi.gov
  13. City of Kentwood, "Contact 62-B District Court" — kentwood.us
  14. Kent County, "63rd District Court" — kentcountymi.gov
  15. City of Kentwood, 62-B District Court, Criminal Division "Jurisdiction" — kentwood.us
  16. Safe Haven Ministries, safehavenministries.org — safehavenministries.org
  17. MCEDSV, Hotline page — mcedsv.org
  18. Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, FAQ — michiganidc.gov
  19. Legal Aid of Western Michigan, I Need Help (Apply by Phone) — lawestmi.org
  20. Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Services — lawestmi.org
  21. Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab, "Victims of Domestic Violence by MICR Offense File Class" (County = Kent) — Michigan State Police
  22. Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab (2021–2025 frozen data) — Michigan State Police
  23. Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab — Michigan State Police
  24. MCR 6.610(D)(1) — Michigan Courts
  25. MCL 750.81(2) — Michigan Legislature
  26. Michigan Courts, "SCAO-Approved Forms for Use in Personal Protection Proceedings" — Michigan Courts
  27. 61st District Court, "Phone Directory" — grcourt.org

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.

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