FOC Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Does the Friend of the Court have a responsibility to investigate alleged abuse and /or neglect of a child?
Can the Friend of the Court enforce property settlement provisions in my judgment of divorce?
Why won't the Friend of the Court enforce a verbal or notarized agreement?
Will the Friend of the Court help find a missing parent?
1. Collect child support
2. Obtain a court order on a child custody or parenting time matter, or enforce an existing order for either type.
3. Enforce state or federal law prohibiting the unlawful taking or restraint of a child.
I am concerned about the other parent discussing changes in the court order with the children. What can the Friend of the Court do?
Unless your court order forbids such discussions, the Friend of the Court has no enforcement power.
Custody FAQs
How do I get an order for custody?
Do I need to have an attorney to get custody?
Are there different kinds of custody?
Yes, a number of custody arrangements are possible. The most common are joint custody and sole custody.
Joint Custody:
Joint custody means an order of the court in which one or both of the following are provided:
• That the children live with one parent part of the time and with the other parent part of the time.
• That the parents both share in making decisions on important issues dealing with the children.
Sole Custody:
An order of the court which states that the children live with one parent and that parent is responsible for making decisions on important issues dealing with the child.
Do I need to have an attorney to get custody?
The other parent is not following the parenting time order. What can I do?
Do I have to get the court's permission to move more than 100 miles from my current home if I only have parenting time with my child?
How old does a child have to be before they can decide where to live?
May I see my child's school, medical, and other records if my child lives with the other parent?
However, the Friend of the Court cannot enforce that law. You may wish to consult an attorney if you are denied any of those rights.
How do I get the court's approval to change the children's residence to a place not allowed by my current order?
The other parent is not paying child support as ordered. What can I do?
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?
I have a parenting time order and my teenage child does not want to come for parenting time. What can I do?
The parents of the child are bound by the court orders. However, you may consider one or more of the following:
- You may want to see if you can work out a different parenting time arrangement with the child and the other parent.
- You can file a petition with the court requesting a change in your parenting time order.
- You can request the Friend of the Court enforce our parenting time order.
Do I have to let my children go for parenting time if it appears that the other parent has been drinking or using drugs?
The other party is not sending or returning clothing or other personal items for our child. Is there anything the Friend of the Court can do?
Child Support FAQs
What happens to my child support order if my minor child is adopted, married, or enters the military service?
Does the Friend of the Court have the right to deduct statutory service fees from a child support payment?
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.
Will the court modify the support order if the payer is in jail or prison?
Will the Friend of the Court make sure that child support money is spent on the children?
If I am receiving TANF or DHS (Department of Human Services) assistance, may I also receive child support?
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?
The other parent is not paying child support as ordered. What can I do?
The other parent is not paying child support as ordered. What can I do?
May I receive child support after my child reaches age 18?
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.