| Friend
of the Court Information |
 |
|
|
| Accounting
and EFT |
 |
| |
 Accounting
Department: |
| The
Friend of the Court accounting department processes support
orders and enters information into the computer. A court
order is a legal document signed by a judge. Accounts
are charged according to a court order. The charge amount
cannot be changed except by entry of a new court order.
By law all court orders now charge monthly. |
| |
|
Arrearages:
|
| Arrearages
are unpaid amounts, including child support, spousal support,
medical payments, statutory fees, and surcharges. Arrearages
owing still must be paid, even after a child emancipates,
unless there is a court order forgiving them. |
| |
|
Certification/Decertification: |
|
Child support will be sent to the State of Michigan when
the Department of Human Services (DHS) notifies the Friend of
the Court (FOC) that the custodian is receiving welfare
benefits (TANF). This notice is by a Certification. Payments
resume to the custodial parent when a decertification
(notice that welfare benefits have stopped) is received. |
| |
|
Changes: |
| All
changes in address, name, income, employer, and children's
residence must be in writing. We cannot accept these changes
by e-mail or telephone, due to the lack of signature. |
| |
|
Closing
Cases: |
| A
Notice of Case Closure is sent by FOC to the parties whenever
a case is closed. Possible reasons for closure include:
emancipation, an order of dismissal, or termination of
parental rights. Arrearages must be paid in full before
the notice will be sent, unless the account is deemed
uncollectible. |
| |
|
Electronic
Fund Transfer (EFT): |
| Our
office encourages the use of EFT for outgoing support
payments. Payees who sign up for EFT will have support
payments sent directly to their bank account. EFT usually
results in quicker receipt of child support and there
is no possibility of a lost or stolen check. There is
no extra charge for this service. Call 1-877-543-2660
for an EFT enrollment form. |
| |
|
Parenting
Time Support Abatements: |
| Some
court orders provide for a 50% abatement in support charges
when the noncustodial parent has the children for six
consecutive overnights. The FOC office has a form available
to apply for this credit. Once the credit is applied to
the account, money may be refunded to the payer by MIDSU,
if the account is paid in full. The form is available
on this website. |
| |
|
Support
Payments: |
| Effective
9-1-03, the FOC office only accepts cash payments at the
payment window. All other payments must be mailed to the
Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MISDU) at PO Box 30350,
Lansing, MI 48909. |
| |
| Links |
|
|
Office of Child Support Public Website |
| Michigan
State Disbursement Unit (SDU) |
| Federal
Office of Child Support |
| MI
Child (Insurance) |
|
Michigan Child Support Formula Manual |
