Some Thoughts on Child Support and Michigan's Friend of the Court

Basic Information

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

These are tough times in Michigan, and many parents are loosing good jobs, particularly in the

automo tive sec tor, and are th ey unable to fi nd more work at t he same pay rat e. Some of thes e

parents pay child support through the Michigan Friend of the Court, and they're having a hard

time getting the FOC (Friend of the Court) and courts to adjust their child support obligation to

reflect their new income.

Sometimes, a FOC employee or judge will say that children who benefit from child support

"shoul d not suffer " because a parent loos es a job. I feel that if he/s he says this , he/she is not

properly conducting his/her duties, and is not obeying the laws of the state of Michigan.

It's not more money that's in the child's best interest, it's the correct application of the Michigan

Child Support Formula Manual.

As of Oct 1, 2008, the 2008 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual is used.

For use in reviewing previous orders, 2004 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual may be

used.