Key points
- Van Buren County's 7th District Court has two locations: 212 E Paw Paw Street, Paw Paw, and 1007 E Wells Street, South Haven.[1]
- All adult criminal cases start in the 7th District Court, which handles misdemeanors and conducts arraignments and preliminary examinations for felonies.[2]
- Felonies are handled by the 36th Circuit Court, 212 E Paw Paw Street, 2nd Floor, Paw Paw.[3]
- The Domestic Violence Coalition in Paw Paw is an advocacy agency, not a shelter; its advocates help fill out and file PPO petitions, and its phone is 269-655-9008.[4][5]
A domestic violence charge in Van Buren County starts in the 7th District Court, which has one location in Paw Paw and another in South Haven.[1][2] Felonies go on to the 36th Circuit Court in Paw Paw.[3] Two things are not published by the county and are flagged below so you can confirm them by phone: which district court location takes which community, and which office accepts personal protection order (PPO) petitions.
If you are in danger, call 911. The Domestic Violence Coalition in Paw Paw states that its crisis lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; its number is 269-655-9008.[5] You can also call or text VOICES4, Michigan's statewide hotline, at 855-864-2374, or reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.[6][7]
Hours and procedures can change, so confirm with the court clerk before relying on anything on this page for a trip to Paw Paw or South Haven.
The 7th District Court: Paw Paw and South Haven
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 7th District Court East (Paw Paw) | 212 E Paw Paw Street, Paw Paw, MI 49079 | 269-657-8222[1] |
| 7th District Court West (South Haven) | 1007 E Wells Street, South Haven, MI 49090 | 269-637-5258[1] |
| 36th Circuit Court | 212 E Paw Paw Street, 2nd Floor, Paw Paw, MI 49079 | 269-657-8260[3] |
Court locations in the county are open 8:30am to 4:45pm, Monday through Friday.[1]
Which location for which city or township?
By statute the 7th District is the county of Van Buren, with 2 judges; the statute does not split the county into divisions.[8] The county's court pages give the two addresses but do not say which cities, villages or townships are heard at each.[1] This guide does not print a list it cannot source. The court named on the citation, bond form or notice to appear controls. If you have no paperwork, call either number above and ask where the case is set.
What the district court does
The 7th District Court handles adult criminal misdemeanors carrying up to one year of imprisonment, and all adult criminal cases start there. It conducts misdemeanor and felony arraignments, presides over preliminary examinations for felonies, and sets bail.[2] The court is a weapons-free zone, and visitors may be searched.[2]
Felonies: the 36th Circuit Court in Paw Paw
The 36th Circuit Court handles criminal cases involving felonies or serious misdemeanors, and its Family Division manages all domestic relations cases.[3] A felony case that began at the South Haven location therefore continues in Paw Paw once the defendant is bound over.[3][9] The steps in between are in the felony case timeline.
PPOs in Van Buren County
A PPO comes from the circuit court, never the district court: Michigan's PPO forms are filed in the family division of circuit court.[10] Beyond that general rule, no Van Buren County page was found that states which office accepts petitions, its hours, or its procedure. Before going to the courthouse:
- Call the 36th Circuit Court at 269-657-8260 and ask where and when PPO petitions are accepted.[3]
- Contact the Domestic Violence Coalition. Its advocates assist with filling out and filing personal protection orders, and they attend court hearings with clients to offer support and explain the process.[5]
- Get the forms in advance. They are free to download from the Michigan Courts website.[10]
Statewide rules fill in the rest. There are no fees for filing a personal protection action.[11] A petitioner may leave a residence address off the documents filed with the court but has to give the court a mailing address.[12] The court rules on an ex parte request within one business day of filing.[13] See How to get a PPO in Michigan and Preparing a PPO petition; respondents should read Served with a PPO.
Local help in Van Buren County
The Domestic Violence Coalition serves victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse, dating violence and other family violence free of charge. It is an advocacy agency for Van Buren County and not a shelter.[4] It has moved: the current address is 106 S Niles St., Paw Paw, so older listings showing a different street are out of date.[4]
For shelter referrals, the VOICES4 hotline can connect callers directly to local domestic violence programs and shelters, and it is free, confidential and staffed 24/7.[6][14] Other agencies in the region are in Where to get help in West Michigan.
Civil legal help: Legal Aid of Western Michigan takes Van Buren County applications at 269-344-8113.[15] Criminal defense is not part of its work, with the exception of record expungements.[16] A person who is charged with a crime and could be jailed is entitled to an attorney, and to an appointed attorney if the person cannot afford one.[17]
Specialty courts and local numbers
Van Buren County's courts advertise a Drug Treatment Court, a Family Reunification Court, a Mental Health Court, a Sobriety Court and Swift & Sure; a domestic violence court is not on the list.[18] The county also takes part in the West Michigan Regional Veterans Treatment Court hosted by Allegan County's 57th District Court.[19]
The Michigan State Police recorded 409 domestic violence victims in Van Buren County in 2025, 291 in 2024, 347 in 2023, 483 in 2022 and 531 in 2021.[20] In 2025, 317 were recorded as non-aggravated assault victims and 56 as aggravated or felonious assault victims.[20] The figures count incidents an investigating officer marked as domestic violence, across family and household relationships.[21][22]
What happens at the district court stage
At a misdemeanor arraignment the defendant is told the name of the offense, the maximum sentence, and the rights to an attorney and to a trial.[23] A judge or district court magistrate may release a defendant subject to conditions reasonably necessary to protect a named person, and has to tell the defendant on the record what those conditions are.[24] For more, see Bond conditions, No-contact orders explained and the misdemeanor case timeline.
Common questions
Will my case be in Paw Paw or South Haven?
The county does not publish which cities and townships are heard at each location, and the statute creating the 7th District does not divide it.[8] The two locations are 212 E Paw Paw Street, Paw Paw, phone 269-657-8222, and 1007 E Wells Street, South Haven, phone 269-637-5258.[1] Go by the address on your paperwork, or call and ask the clerk.
Where do felony domestic violence cases go in Van Buren County?
To the 36th Circuit Court at 212 E Paw Paw Street, 2nd Floor, Paw Paw, MI 49079, phone 269-657-8260.[3] The case begins in the 7th District Court, which presides over the preliminary examination.[2] The circuit court has jurisdiction from the bindover.[9]
Where do I file a PPO in Van Buren County?
PPO forms are filed in the family division of the circuit court.[10] The county's website does not publish a page stating which office takes PPO petitions or its hours, so call the 36th Circuit Court at 269-657-8260 before you go.[3] Advocates at the Domestic Violence Coalition assist with filling out and filing petitions.[5]
Is the Domestic Violence Coalition in Paw Paw a shelter?
No. The agency states that it is not a shelter and is an advocacy agency for Van Buren County. Its services are free of charge and include protection order assistance, court accompaniment and support groups.[4] Its address is 106 S Niles St., Paw Paw.[4]
Can I bring a weapon into the 7th District Court if I have a permit?
No. The court's page states that the 7th District Court is a weapons-free zone, that weapons are not to be brought to court even with a permit, and that people may be searched.[2]
Sources
- Van Buren County Courts, "Location, Hours & Contact Information" — vanburencountymi.gov
- Van Buren County, "7th District Court" page — vanburencountymi.gov
- Van Buren County Courts, "Location, Hours & Contact Information"; "36th Circuit Court" page — vanburencountymi.gov
- DVC: The Domestic Violence Coalition, domesticviolencecoalition.org — domesticviolencecoalition.org
- DVC: The Domestic Violence Coalition, Services page — domesticviolencecoalition.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 600.8116 — Michigan Legislature
- MCR 6.008(A)–(B) — Michigan Courts
- Michigan Courts, "SCAO-Approved Forms for Use in Personal Protection Proceedings" — Michigan Courts
- MCR 3.703(A) — Michigan Courts
- MCR 3.703(B)(6); MCL 600.2950(3); MCL 600.2950a(6) — Michigan Courts
- MCR 3.705(A)(1) — Michigan Courts
- MCEDSV, Hotline page — mcedsv.org
- Legal Aid of Western Michigan, I Need Help (Apply by Phone) — lawestmi.org
- Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Services — lawestmi.org
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, FAQ — michiganidc.gov
- Van Buren County, "Specialty Courts" page; "Location, Hours & Contact Information" — vanburencountymi.gov
- Allegan County, "WMRVTC" — allegancounty.org
- Michigan State Police, Crime in Michigan dashboard, Domestic Violence tab (County = Van Buren) — 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
- MCR 6.610(D)(1) — Michigan Courts
- MCL 765.6b(1) — 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.