Michigan Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Michigan that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Michigan court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Michigan court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Michigan court ordered it?
Michigan doesn't have a statewide statute requiring a ‘certified anger-management’ class. Counseling requirements typically come up case by case, either as a general probation condition or under the domestic-assault deferral statute, MCL 769.4a, which lets a first-time domestic-assault defendant avoid a conviction by completing probation and any required counseling.
A personal protection order (PPO) under MCL 600.2950 is a separate civil remedy from criminal charges, and it doesn't itself mandate a specific counseling program. Because Michigan leaves these decisions to the individual judge or probation officer, confirm exactly what your order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Michigan included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Michigan court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Michigan-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Michigan civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Child Custody Act — Best Interest FactorsMCL 722.23
In deciding child custody and parenting-time disputes, courts must weigh statutory factors including the mental and physical health of the parties and any domestic violence, regardless of whether it was directed at or witnessed by the child.
Personal Protection Orders — Domestic RelationshipsMCL 600.2950
Allows a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, or household member to petition for a civil personal protection order restraining another person from acts such as assault, threats, stalking, or firearm possession. Orders can be granted ex parte and last at least 182 days.
Friend of the Court Act — Parenting-Time EnforcementMCL 552.511
Establishes county Friend of the Court offices that investigate custody and parenting-time disputes and can recommend services, including counseling, to help resolve conflict between parents, though courts retain discretion over what to order.
Criminal law
Assault and BatteryMCL 750.81
General misdemeanor assault/battery carrying up to 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. A separate subsection criminalizes “domestic assault” against a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, or household member, also a 93-day misdemeanor for a first offense.
Aggravated / Domestic AssaultMCL 750.81a
Covers assault causing serious or aggravated injury without a weapon or intent to commit murder or great bodily harm, including enhanced penalties for repeat domestic-violence offenders.
StalkingMCL 750.411h (aggravated stalking at MCL 750.411i)
Defines stalking as repeated, unconsented contact causing reasonable fear; a first offense is a misdemeanor, with aggravated stalking (such as violating a protection order) charged as a felony.
Deferred Proceedings for Domestic AssaultMCL 769.4a
Lets a first-time domestic-assault defendant plead guilty and be placed on probation for up to two years without entry of a conviction, with charges dismissed on successful completion. Expressly allows the court to require participation in a mandatory counseling program as a probation condition.