FAQs • Lenawee County, MI • CivicEngage

My court order says to pay support through the Friend of the Court or the Michigan State Disbursement Unit. May I pay the other parent directly?: No, not unless your order specifically allows direct payments. If it does not, you might not receive credit for payments made directly to the other parent.

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Friend of the Court - Child Support

1. How do I get an order for child support?: If no one has yet commenced a civil lawsuit that raises the child support issue, you first must file a complaint that includes a request that the court enter a child support order. The next step is to file a motion asking the court to enter a child support order. The motion must be filed with the court clerk.

In Lenawee County, the motion/complaint is referred to the Friend of the Court unless parties have previously agreed to opt out of the friend of the court services. In most situations, the friend of the court establishes the first support recommendation. Once approved by the court, the recommendation then becomes a temporary order and awaits final judgment. Lenawee FOC Financial Intake staff are required to use the Michigan Guidelines for Support in making their recommendations. You may access the Michigan Guidelines for Support through the Michigan Courts Friend of the Court Bureau Website

2. Do I need an attorney to get a support order?: No, but you are expected to understand court rules and state laws if you act on your own.

3. May I receive child support after my child reaches age 18?: Child support can continue up to age 19 1/2 if the child attends high school on a full-time basis with the reasonable expectation of completing sufficient credits to graduate, and the child continues to reside on a full-time basis with the person who receives the support payments.

4. If I have been paying child support as required by the court's order but the custodial parent will not allow me the parenting time required by that order, do I have to keep paying support?: Yes. An order's parenting time and child support provisions are enforced separately.

5. The other parent is not paying child support as ordered. What can I do?: Contact your Friend of the Court enforcement officer for enforcement of the support order if the other parent is more than one month behind on the support payments. You may also choose to hire an attorney to start enforcement proceedings.

6. My court order says to pay support through the Friend of the Court or the Michigan State Disbursement Unit. May I pay the other parent directly?: No, not unless your order specifically allows direct payments. If it does not, you might not receive credit for payments made directly to the other parent.

7. If I am receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Family Independence Program (FIP) public assistance, may I also receive child support?: All child support payments must be routed through the MiSDU, which sends the payment to the state. The state may pass some of that child support directly to you.

8. Will the Friend of the Court make sure that child support money is spent on the children?: No. The law does not authorize the Friend of the Court to verify how child support payments are spent by the custodial parent. However, the court may change the custody or support arrangements if you can show that the custodial parent has neglected the children's needs.