Ingham County Friend of the Court

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INGHAM COUNTY

FRIEND OF THE COURT

WELCOME!!

The Ingham County Friend of the Court first developed this Handbook and web page in 2000 to bring you information about the Ingham County Circuit Court, Family Division and the Handbook operations of the office of the Friend of the Court. It is important for you to understand that basic legal policies governing the Friend of the Court are established by state law. In addition, the Judges of Ingham County have adopted procedures to insure full compliance with the law and help guarantee fairness to the parties.

Domestic disputes are a difficult and challenging time for the parties to the dispute. BUT AS SIGNIFICANT AS THEIR IMPACT IS UPON THE PARTIES, PLEASE THINK OF THEIR IMPACT UPON YOUR CHILDREN. It is the children, and the “best interests of the children” that is the major focal point of judicial concern, and the concern of Ingham County Friend of the Court.

This Handbook/Web Site is designed for Ingham County residents. If you are involved in a domestic dispute it is advisable that you review the Ingham County Handbook so that you fully understand the principles that will be applied in your case. It must also be remembered, however, that there is no specific rule that applies to each set of circumstances; ultimately, when the parties are in dispute, the issue must be resolved by some impartial third person. Parties are urged to listen to the advice of their attorneys, their Friend of the Court caseworker or other persons truly knowledgeable about the Circuit Court Family Division system. When the dispute cannot be resolved between the parties, your case may have to be heard by a Referee or a Judge.

We hope that you find this Handbook/Web Site (the web site has been used over 250,000 times over the past seven years) helpful to you. If you believe that there is information that needs to be updated or changed, please feel free to contact your caseworker at the Ingham County Friend of the Court.

Sincerely,

Shauna Dunnings, Deputy Court Administrator/FOC

LOCATION OF FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE:

Grady Porter Building

303 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, Michigan.

You must enter through security at Veterans Memorial Courthouse

313 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, Michigan 48933

MAP TO OFFICE

The mailing address for the Friend of the Court:

P.O. Box 40097

Lansing, Michigan 48901

CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES

RECENT ADDITION OF A FEE FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES

EXPLANATION OF FEDERALLY MANDATED FEE:

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5528-196199--,00.html

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FEE:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-Child-Support-Customer-Fee-FAQs_242389_7.pdf

PRESS RELEASE REGARDING FEES:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-Child-Support-Customer-Fee-Press-Release_242390_7.pdf

WEBSITE LINKS FAMILIES TO CHILD SUPPORT CASH.

A recent upgrade to the Michigan Department of Human Services Website allows custodial parents or caregivers to search on-line for the money they are due:

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5528-107523--,00.html

Michigan Department of Treasury (for escheated child support payments made more than two years ago):

http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1748_1876_1912-7924--,00.html

Distribution to Multiple Cases – If a payer has more than one case in this or another county, it is possible that a payment may be distributed with a partial payment to each case rather than all of the withholding to one case. This is required by federal regulations.

EXPLANATION OF DISTRIBUTION - This link explains the distribution of child support.

Payments and Checks – Central processing of payments. The Friend of the Court will only accept CASH, CREDIT CARD, or MONEY ORDER payments at the FOC office. Federal laws require that all payments be made to the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) at P.O. Box 30350, Lansing, MI 48909-7850. If a payer brings a check or money order to the FOC office, he or she will be given a pre-addressed envelope to mail the payment directly to the MiSDU.
The exception to this rule is that if you have been directed by an FOC employee to make the payment to pay fees or costs to the Friend of the Court. These payments must be made here.

Support checks are been printed and mailed from MiSDU. In addition, most cases are required to participate in Direct Deposit, either through your own bank account or through an account set up by MiSDU at U.S. Bank If you do not receive your payment, you must contact the central customer service unit toll free through the Friend of the Court INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE system at (517) 676-5885. Please do not contact the Friend of the Court to request the status of your support check.

Electronic Funds Transfers (direct deposit) – If you have already signed up for direct deposit with the FOC, there is nothing for you to do. If you change bank accounts, you will need to notify the MiSDU. Forms are available at the FOC website (www.ingham.org/fc/foc.htm), FOC office, through the Telephone Access Computer (676-5885) or by connecting to the central customer service unit toll free at (517) 676-5885.

If you have cases in more than one county with more than one account for direct deposit, you will need to change them all to one account.

Coupons – Payers who do not have an income withholding order will receive notices instructing them to submit support payments directly to the MiSDU, not to the Friend of the Court. Payers will be receiving coupons by mail from the MiSDU.
The exception to this rule is if you have been directed by an FOC employee to make the payment here at the Friend of the Court as a payment agreement or for fees or fines.

Address Changes – Must be reported in writing to the MiSDU or to the Friend of the Court office. Forms are available on the FOC website, FOC office or by calling the central customer service unit toll free through the Friend of the Court INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE system at (517) 676-5885.

Fines and Court Costs – These must be paid, as directed, to the Friend of the Court office. In most cases, you will receive a coupon or paperwork that directs the payment and which must accompany the payment.

Visitation Credit – Credit for visitation will be applied directly to the case and can be refunded ONLY in those instances where ALL of a payer's cases are paid up to date. Direct refunds for visitation will no longer be issued.

INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM

DIAL 517-676-5885

The INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM system gives you access to specific case information, as well as general information about Friend of the Court services. This is the easiest and quickest way to get account information. Please use the TAC line before you contact your caseworker.

A major change in the IVR procedure is that you will need to enter your Social Security number in order to access your case information. The first time that you enter the system, you will be required to set a "PIN" (Personal Identification Number), so that no one else can access your account. You must remember this PIN and use it each time you access your account. Please be sure to write it down. Although no one can change account information on the telephone, if you want to keep your information private, you should not share you PIN. If you lose or forget your PIN, the directions are available on the line for resetting the PIN.

YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE MICHIGAN CENTRAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT through the Interactive Voice Response system.

This page was last updated on 06/05/09.

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