Friend of the Court

Return to Calhoun County Courts Home Page

This message describes the duties of the Friend of the Court office in general terms. If you have an existing case with the Friend of the Court, and you want specific case information, please call the Friend of the Court office where your case is located.

The Friend of the Court office is a division of the circuit court, and there is at least one office for each circuit court in the state. The Friend of the Court office was created to assist the court in divorce and other related cases. Generally, the Friend of the Court involvement is limited to areas of child custody, parenting time, and support. The Friend of the Court office may also collect and enforce alimony orders as well.

The Friend of the Court is responsible for the following specific duties:

First, the Friend of the Court investigates and make recommendations on child custody, parenting time and support to the circuit court judge.

Second, the Friend of the Court initiates enforcement of the court's orders regarding custody, parenting time and support.

Third, unless otherwise ordered, support is paid through the Friend of the Court. If child support payments are late or overdue, the Friend of the Court will initiate enforcement action. The most common method of collecting support is through automatic income withholding where support payments are deducted directly from the paycheck of the support payer. Other methods of support enforcement include taking a payer's federal and state income tax refund and applying it to the child support arrearage; supplying arrearage information to credit reporting agencies; suspending driver's and occupational licenses and petitioning for an order to show cause requiring the payer to appear in court for non-payment.

Top of Page

The Friend of the Court is required, by law, to charge a yearly fee which is to be paid by the person ordered to pay chid support.

The Friend of the Court handbook is available from your local Friend of the Court office.

2/99

Additional resources on this topic

"Model Friend of the Court Handbook"-Part 1;Part 2; Part 3;Part 4;Part 5; Part 6;Part 7

This handbook was prepared by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, Friend of the Court Bureau. The handbook provides information about the Michigan Friend of the Court, divorce, custody, parenting time (visitation) and the child support enforcement program. 1996 "Show Cause Proceedings in Domestic Relations Cases"

This pamphlet was prepared by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. The materials describe show cause proceedings in domestic relations cases. 1996 "Understanding Child Support Payment Distribution"

This pamphlet was prepared by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. The material explains the federal rules for how support is paid through a state agency. 1999

"What It Means to Represent Yourself in a Legal Matter"

This pamphlet was prepared by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. The material explains your responsibilities if you decide to represent yourself in a legal action. 1997 Top of Page

Return to Court Information Menu

Return to Calhoun County Courts Home Page

Last updated 3-15-06

Send your comments, questions and suggestions to Phil Harter at 161 E Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014 or e mail to pharter@calhouncountymi.gov