Petition: Stop Post-Divorce Abuse and Protect Families in Michigan

Many people believe abuse ends when divorce is filed. In reality, it is often when it gets worse during the divorce, and the post-divorce. Victims face intimidation, harassment, and emotional harm during and after divorce, but Michigan’s system often fails to protect them.

The Law Is Clear, But Sometimes is Disregarded

Michigan law (MCL 400.1501) defines domestic violence to include:

• Physical or mental harm, or attempts to cause harm.
• Placing a family member in fear of physical or mental harm.
• Engaging in conduct that causes a person to feel terrorized, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.

Police are legally required under MCL 764.15c to complete a Domestic Incident Report (DV-001) for every domestic incident. But too often, when victims call for help, officers dismiss it as ‘divorce is difficult’ and to ‘deal with the best way you can’ or ‘it will be over when the divorce is over’.   This ignores the law and leaves families unprotected, along with no evidence for court.

The Courts May Cause it to be Worse

Judges and attorneys often minimize emotional abuse. Victims remain silent out of fear they will:

• Not be believed.
• Be labeled “vindictive” or “bitter” for bringing up issues.
• Lose custody of their children.
• Face financial ruin while attorneys’ profit from prolonged cases.

Real Stories from Michigan Families

(Identifying details withheld for safety.)

• An emergency hearing took two years to be scheduled. During that time a mother was not allowed her parenting time, despite no CPS findings against her.  When a hearing did take place – she was still not allowed parenting time.
• A parent who tried to protect her child from a drug-abusing parent—with failed drug test evidence—was instead jailed by the court for not allowing the drug-abusing parent to have parenting time.
• An abuser falsely accused a mother of leaving her children in a hot car. GPS evidence proved she and the children were not near the abuser for him to state or have proof of the accusation, but the case was still pushed through, costing her thousands.
• A victim fleeing to a domestic violence shelter was threatened with an Amber Alert or kidnapping charges unless she surrendered her children for an interview with the guardian ad litem. She lost custody—without a hearing or due process.
• It is known that many Family Court Judges do not appreciate “long motions,” yet emotional and verbal abuse often requires detailed documentation to prove. Evidence is then ignored.
• Abusers and their attorneys use DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) to flip the script and make victims look like aggressors. Courts fall for it, and victims lose custody of their children.

These are not isolated events—they are part of a pattern where abuse is dismissed, victims are punished, and children are harmed.

We Need Change

We, the undersigned, call on Michigan lawmakers, courts, and law enforcement to:

• Review family court laws and Friend of the Court practices to ensure fairness and protect victims.
• Protect domestic violence shelters so that seeking safety is never used against a parent by attorneys or the judicial system.
• Require continuing education for police, judges, and attorneys on emotional and verbal abuse through Kayden's Law in Michigan. https://www.daniellepollack.com/in-the-news
• Hold judges accountable for reviewing all evidence submitted in all cases.
• Enforce DV-001 reporting by police, and, allow and require/ mandate attorneys, doctors, nurses and hospital staff who know of abuse to report it with DV-001.
• Create consequences for abusers during and after divorce—such as mandatory therapy, fines, or community service.
• Stop DARVO tactics in court. If raised, require a separate motion instead of letting it derail hearings.
• Sanction attorneys who present false or misleading evidence that harms children or victims.
• A judicial review similar to Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation - https://judicialperformance.colorado.gov/

Why This Matters

Divorce should not be a loophole that allows abuse to continue. Children deserve safety, and survivors deserve protection—not punishment—for speaking up. Emotional and verbal abuse are real, measurable, and devastating. Michigan must recognize and address them.

Please sign this petition to demand accountability and reform. Together, we can make Michigan’s legal system safer for victims and children.