There shall exist an action known as a petition for a stalking protection order.
(1) A petition for relief shall allege the existence of stalking conduct and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath stating the specific reasons that have caused the petitioner to become reasonably fearful that the respondent intends to injure the petitioner or another person, or the petitioner's property or the property of another. The petition shall disclose the existence of any other litigation or of any other restraining, protection, or no-contact orders between the parties.
(2) A petition for relief shall be filed as a separate, stand-alone civil case and a petition for relief may be made regardless of whether or not there is a pending lawsuit, complaint, petition, or other action between the parties.
(3) Forms and instructional brochures and the necessary number of certified copies shall be provided to the petitioner free of charge.
(4) A person is not required to post a bond to obtain relief in any proceeding under this section.
(5) If the petition states that disclosure of the petitioner's address would risk abuse of the petitioner or any member of the petitioner's family or household, that address may be omitted from all documents filed with the court. If the petitioner has not disclosed an address under this subsection, the petitioner shall designate an alternative address at which the respondent may serve notice of any motions.
[ 2013 c 84 § 3.]