When you apply for child support services, you have the right to: 

• Receive fair and nondiscriminatory treatment 
• Have all private data treated as confidential 
• Be notified of every important action concerning your case 
• Have the opportunity to participate in any court action involving your case 
• Ask for reviews and adjustments of your support order 

After you apply, you must take an active role in your case. Cooperating with the child support office improves the chances for successful support order establishment and collection. You must also report any changes that may affect your case, for example if: 

• You or the other parent has a change of address 
• You or the other parent has a new phone number or a new job 
• The number of children living with you changes 
• You have new information that might help locate the other parent 
• You apply for FIP or Medical Assistance 
• You are involved in other court actions (e.g., divorce action) regarding support payments 

See Change of Information form. 

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How To Locate Absent Parents 

To obtain assistance with locating an absent parent, you will work with the agency that is currently handling your case. 

To assist the child support office with locating a parent, the most important information you can provide is his or her social security number and employer's name and address. The following checklist may be helpful when gathering information about the absent parent: 

• Name/s and nicknames 
• Social security number 
• Date and place of birth 
• Last known home address 
• Last known employer 
• Photograph 
• Relatives' names and addresses 
• Military record 
• Assets (home, business, cars, boats, etc.) 
• Favorite "hangouts," hobbies, memberships, etc. 

There are also a variety of free resources available to those interested in locating a parent on their own. See Parent Locator Resources. 

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Establishing a Court Order for Child Support, Medical Support and Childcare Support 

The prosecuting attorney's office in each county is responsible for actions to establish support. If you do not already have an order for child support, you may contact an attorney, represent yourself, or contact a DHS support specialist toll-free at 1-866-540-0008. You must submit an application to the DHS support specialist and the support specialist can assist if needed. If all appropriate information is included, the support specialist will make a referral to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. 

The support specialist may call for additional information if it is needed before making a referral to the prosecuting attorney. The prosecuting attorney will petition the court for a support order and may contact you for additional information if it is needed prior to that time. You may also be contacted by the Friend of the Court, who is responsible for making recommendations on support. 

The court generally orders the non-custodial parent to provide support for a child living with the other parent. The court sets the amount of support a parent must provide. The support order may be a part of an interim, temporary, permanent, or modified court order in a divorce, paternity action, child custody action, or separate child support action. Note: Paternity must be established, either voluntarily or through court action, before the court can establish an order to pay child support. 

Three types of support can be ordered: 

• Child support 
• Medical support 
• Childcare support 

Child Support - In Michigan, the child support amount is determined using guidelines established under State law. These guidelines are based on monthly net income. The court reviews child support agreements to make sure the guidelines are applied correctly and the amount of child support is appropriate. 

In some cases, the court may decide not to use the income guidelines to determine the amount of child support. When parents have joint physical custody, shared custody, or split custody of a child, the determination of child support may not fit the formula. For more information on child support guidelines, see the Child Support Formula manual. 

Medical Support - Michigan law states: "The court shall require that one or both parents shall obtain or maintain any health care coverage that is available to them at a reasonable cost, as a benefit of employment." This means that if an employer offers health care coverage, the employee's child must be enrolled if it is available at a reasonable cost. One or both parents may also be ordered to pay medical expenses that aren't covered by insurance. This is determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Childcare Support - When a parent incurs work-related childcare expenses, an additional order adjustment is required. Work-related childcare expenses include those that allow the parent to look for employment, retain paid employment, or to enroll in and attend an educational program that will improve employment opportunities. Using each party's income, the court decides the financial responsibility for this cost. 

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Establishing a court order for custody and parenting time 

The Friend of the Court does not start court cases. Once a court case is filed, the Friend of the Court will investigate and make a recommendation regarding custody and support. 

See the Michigan Custody Guideline  

See the Michigan Parenting Time Guideline  

There is also a parenting time website available. 

There are also custody and parenting time forms available that can be used by parties in a custody and parenting time case. 

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Modifying a court order for support 

Modification of a support order can by done in two ways: 

Friend of the Court automatic review every 36 months. Every 36 months the Friend of the Court does a review of child support orders. This review is automatic in public assistance cases, and upon written request in all other cases. 

When reviewing support, the Friend of the Court office may request information from the parents' employer, including address, social security number, date of birth, wages earned, and dependent health care coverage available as a benefit of employment. 

When directed by the judge, the Friend of the Court office will also conduct a financial investigation and make a written report and recommendation to the parties involved (or their attorneys) and the judge regarding child support. 

Customers can send an Objection to Child Support Review form to their Friend of the Court if he or she receives a notice of a child support review (Form FOC 71) and he or she does not agree with the determination. 

Requesting a support modification motion with the court. You may choose to file a motion to change the support order more often than every three years if there is a substantial change in income for either party. 

The office of the Friend of the Court can provide forms and instructions to file this type of motion. You may also contact an attorney to file a motion requesting a change in the amount of support. 

If both parents agree to change the support order to the amount shown by the child support formula, they may sign an agreement. Once that agreement is put in the form of an order, signed by the judge, and filed with the county clerk, it will become a court order. 

For assistance in modifying a support court order, contact your local Friend of the Court. 

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Modifying an order for custody or parenting time 

You may choose to file a motion to change a custody or parenting time order. You may contact the Friend of the Court to make this request for modification. See custody and parenting time forms that can be used by parties to request a modification of an order for custody or parenting time. You may also contact an attorney to file a motion requesting a change in custody or parenting time. 

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How to make support payments 

All support in Michigan is collected and distributed by the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU). The MiSDU receives support payments from employers through Income Withholding Orders (IWN) or directly from individual payers. 

Individual payers can make payments: 

• By check sent in the mail to:
  Michigan State Disbursement Unit
  P.O. Box 30351
  Lansing, Michigan 48909-7851 
• Through the Internet 
• By credit card. 

Please go to the MiSDU Web site to make electronic payments through the internet or by credit card. 

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How support payments are received by the custodial party 

The custodial party can receive payments: 

• Through direct deposit into a personal checking/savings account. 
• Through deposit to a child support debit card. 

Michigan law requires that the Office of Child Support must send payments through electronic disbursement except in specific, limited circumstances. All support recipients who do not choose direct deposit into their checking or savings account will receive a debit card. Support will be automatically deposited into the debit card account. 

See more on electronic disbursement of child support payments 

See Frequently Asked Questions about the electronic disbursement of child support payments. 

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How to change your address 

All parties in a child support case must, under law, keep their address current with the Friend of the Court. If you have moved, please send the FOC an updated address form.  Provide your changed information on the form and mail to your Friend of the Court. 

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