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Child Support

Child Support

Child Support

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In Michigan, unpaid child support is a big problem. Right now, people owe more than $4.9 billion in child support to Michigan children, and over $1.8 billion is owed to the state. 

The Attorney General’s Child Support Division works with the Friend of the Court to find parents who can pay child support but choose not to. Investigators help track down these parents across the state. 

The division was created in 2003 to help solve the problem of unpaid child support. Over the years, it has made a big difference in making sure parents follow child support orders. 

Since 2003, the division has collected over $440 million, which has helped 30,000 children. 

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Child Support Division Mission

The mission of the Child Support Division is to enforce child support orders by prosecuting parents who have a history of non-payment and have large arrearages of at least $5,000 or 24 months of non-payment, whichever is greater. 

The division brings in more money than it costs to run, which helps save the state money. In many cases, money is owed to the State when cash assistance has been paid to the custodial parent. When the division collects child support in these cases, it helps pay back the state for that money. 

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Submit a Child Support Complaint

Only new complaints may be filed online.

Please be aware of the following:

  • When your complaint has been submitted, you will be informed of your Web Complaint Number in your confirmation.
  • Please make an accurate record of this number or print the confirmation page.
  • A copy of the complaint may be sent to other governmental agencies.
  • Do not use punctuation when providing names and addresses.

Submit Complaint

Common Questions

How do you make a complaint concerning the Friend of the Court?

The Attorney General does not handle complaints about the Friend of the Court (FOC).

If you have a complaint, you should first send a written grievance to the FOC office in your county.

The FOC’s work is supervised by the chief judge, according to the law (MCL 552.503). 

What do I do if I disagree with a family court's custody determination?

The family court decides custody arrangements for children in its cases. They make decisions based on all the facts and what is best for the child.

The court’s decision is final, and the Attorney General cannot change or oversee the court’s decision.

If you want to appeal, it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer. You can reach the State Bar Lawyer Referral Services at 800-968-0738 for help finding a lawyer or switching lawyers. 

The family court is not enforcing my divorce, my child custody or my alimony order. Is there anything I can do?

The family court oversees making sure orders about divorce, alimony, and custody are followed. If the court isn’t enforcing an order, you need to bring the issue back to the court.

Only the court can make changes to its own orders.

If the court won’t enforce or change an order, you can appeal to a higher court.

You may want to talk to a lawyer about appealing. You can contact the State Bar Lawyer Referral Services at 800-968-0738 for help. 

Who do I call regarding grandparents' rights?

If you want information about grandparent visitation rights, you can contact the State Bar Lawyer Referral Services at 800-968-0738. They can help you find a lawyer or switch lawyers.

Statewide Resources