Friend of the Court
The Role and Functions of the Friend of the Court
The Friend of the Court is an entity created by statute to assist the Family Court in establishing, enforcing, and modifying orders regarding child support, child care expenses, child custody, parenting time, uninsured medical costs, and domicile.
The Friend of the Court investigates and issues reports and recommendations regarding these issues. The Friend of the Court holds Referee Hearings involving all of these issues and also holds show cause hearings to enforce child support, parenting time, and spousal support orders.
The Friend of the Court provides Conciliation Hearings at the beginning of new domestic relations cases to address the issues of child custody, support, and parenting time. The Friend of the Court additionally provides mediation for domestic relations cases which attempts to amicably resolve disputes between Parties in a nonadversarial fashion.
See the Friend of the Court Act, MCL 552.501; the Support and Parenting Time Enforcement Act, MCL 552.610.
[To navigate through the Friend of the Court Website, please click the links below]
[To navigate through the Friend of the Court Website, please click the links below]
- Friend of the Court Staff
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The SMILE Program
- Definitions and Terms
- Medical Expense Reimbursement Enforcement
- Conciliation Hearings
- Changing Domicile
- Changing Custody
- Changing Child Support
- Changing Parenting Time
- Parenting Time Complaints
- Reasonable Rights of Parenting Time Policy
- Parenting Time Abatements
- Resources and Links
- Contacting the Friend of the Court
- Information for Employers
- Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)
- Most Common Myths Regarding the Friend of the Court
- Most Wanted for Nonpayment
- Obtaining Friend of the Court Records
- Policy Regarding Psychological Evaluation Reports
- Things to Know If You Are Incarcerated
- Financial Liability of Parents for Children Born Out of Wedlock
- Change of Address Form
- Injured Spouse Form
- Uniform Support Order Form
- New $25.00 Yearly Fee
- Your Suggestions to Improve Our Services
A technology initiative of the Information Systems Department.