Make a Payment
Make child support payments online at govpaynow.com or call 1(888)-604-7888.
Child support is the payment of money for the support of a child in a divorce, paternity or Family Support Act proceeding. Support includes, but is not limited to, health care, childcare, and educational expenses. Individuals may send support payments to:
MiSDU
P.O. Box 30351
Lansing, MI. 48909 -7851
If a payer of child support is employed, the child support payments may be withheld from the payer’s earnings through an income withholding order. Federal and state programs have been established to ensure that parents support their children. As a part of these programs, employers served with an order of income withholding must withhold income and transmit it to the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU). Employers may send those support payments to:
MiSDU
P.O. Box 30350
Lansing, MI. 48909
Michigan Child Support Formula
As part of its responsibilities, the State Court Administrative Office’s Friend of the Court Bureau developed a formula or guideline for figuring child support obligation amounts. The law requires courts to use this formula when setting or changing child support obligations.
The formula is based on common factors which are appropriate for use in the determination of child support obligations. Based on the estimated costs of raising children and factors like parental income, family size, and ages of children, the formula provides for appropriate support amounts in orders involving the support of children.
Direct Deposit of Child Support
Public Act 548 of 2004 requires that the MiSDU disburse support electronically. The MiSDU must accomplish this either through direct deposit to an individual’s bank account or through use of a debit card. The MiSDU is the single location in the state for disbursement of all child support payments.
The following customers are exempt from mandatory participation in electronic disbursement of support:
- Individuals with a mental or physical disability that imposes a hardship in accessing electronic payments.
- Individuals with a language or literacy barrier that imposes a hardship in accessing electronic payments.
- Individuals with both home and work addresses that are more than 30 miles from an ATM or their financial institution.
Exempt customers are not required to receive payments via direct deposit or a debit card. They must contact the MiSDU to request an exemption by calling 1-877-4-MI-DEBIT (1-877-464-3324).
MiSDU Debit Card Information
Debit card customers may call the MiSDU Debit Card line toll free at 877-464-3324 for information concerning the debit card program (how to use the debit card, fees, etc.), to obtain a copy of the debit card application or direct deposit application, for exception requests, and for assistance if they have not received a debit card.
For automated services such as activation of the debit card, balance information, transaction history, or to report a lost or stolen debit card, debit card customers should call US Bank toll free at 866-276-5114. This toll free number can also be used to change the PIN number associated with the debit card. In addition, customers can reach a customer service representative on this line free of charge once per month. A fee of $3 applies for any additional calls to a customer service representative within a one-month period.
For information about the most recent support amounts receipted and disbursed, or for mailing and residential address changes, customers should call the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System. Follow the prompts on the IVR to the Friend of the Court for questions concerning the amount or change in a support order, for submitting legal address change, for enforcement, or for other support case questions.
Account information is also available online at GoProgram.com.
Manage Your Case
MiChildSupport provides 24/7 real time information about your child support case right from your mobile device or personal computer.
How do I get child support?
When money is received at the MISDU on your case and owed to the payee, a check is issued from the MISDU to the payee, or an electronic fund transfer (EFT) is made directly to your financial institution, or a Reli-a-card deposit is made.
The other parent is not paying child support as ordered. What can I do?
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 the order, do I have to keep paying support?
Does the Friend of the Court have the right to deduct statutory service fees from a child support payment?
My court order says to pay support through the Friend of the Court or the MiSDU (Michigan State Disbursement Unit). May I pay the other parent directly?
Can I simply call the Friend of the Court and tell the office that my child is now living with me if my ex-spouse and I agree?
If I am receiving TANF or DHS (Department of Human Services) assistance, may I also receive child support?
The payor of support is self-employed and not making his/her support payments. What can the Friend of the Court do?
1. Petitioning the court for a show cause hearing.
2. Submitting the payer's name for tax intercept (offset).
3. Filing a lien on the payer's property.