Friend of the Court
Support
Mediation
Parenting Time
Us
A "support order" in the form of a Uniform Support Order (USO) is any court order that requires a party to pay:
- Child support
- Spousal support (formerly called "alimony")
- Medical, dental, and other health care expenses for the child(ren)
- Confinement/birthing expenses
- Child care expenses
All support orders state an amount that is due on the first day of each month. Support is past due if not paid by the last day of the month. When an order takes effect on a day other than the first day of a month, the support amount must be prorated for the partial month. Unless an order gives a specific end date, support will end on the last day of the month specified by the order. The last month of support will not be prorated to a certain date.
Medical support obligations consist of health care insurance coverage, ordinary and extraordinary medical expenses.
Medical Support Forms:
- Request for Enforcement of Health Care Expense Payment - Form FOC 13 and instructions for filing
- Complaint and Notice for Health Care Expense Payment - Form FOC 13a
A custody order establishes where a child will live, and how the parents will divide parenting time. Custody orders can be entered by an agreement of the parties. If there is no agreement, one or both parents may file a custody motion with the court.
For more information please review the Friend of the Court Bureau custody handbook.
Mediation provides parents with the opportunity to communicate, with the assistance of a neutral third party, to resolve any disputes regarding custody or parenting time.
There is typically no cost when the FOC provides mediation. Participation in mediation of custody or parenting time is voluntary; both parents must be willing to participate.
If an agreement is reached during mediation, a stipulation or consent order can be prepared that reflects the agreement of the parents.
Child support orders remain in effect regardless of where you live, unless changed by a Court Order.
If either party leaves Michigan, it does not mean that the support obligation ends. If support payments are not timely, or stop altogether, there are enforcement laws between each state that assure payments will be made.
Interstate action is for child support only. It does not cover parenting time and custody issues.
Additional Printable Forms:
A parenting-time order specifies when a child will spend time with each parent. An order that grants "reasonable" parenting time assumes that you and the other parent will agree to a parenting-time schedule that is convenient to both of you and to the child. If you and the other parent cannot agree on a "reasonable parenting time" schedule, then the Midland County Co-Parenting Plan may be incorporated into your order which states the parenting time for each parent.
View Parenting Plans in the FAQ section
Main Office (989) 832-6801
Fax (989) 832-6392
Support Enforcement
Angela Lewis (Case Name A-K) (989) 832-6805
Deb Finney (Case Name L-Z) (989) 832-6817
Family Evaluators
Deborah Boge (989) 832-6811
Megan Rogers (989) 832-6814
Taylor Whitehead (989) 832-6385
Interstate Support/Medical Support
Rhonda Sequin (989) 832-6816
Office Manager
Sarah M. Whitmer (989) 832-6809
HOW TO REACH US
Jessica Beyer, Director
220 W Ellsworth Street, 4th Floor
Midland, MI 48640-5194
Phone: (989) 832-6801
Fax: (989) 832-6392
Hours: Mon-Fri (8 am - 5 pm)
Have a Question? Reach Out
Links of Interest
Midland County Friend of the Court Orientation Packet
Understanding Child Support - A Handbook for Parents
MiSDU (State of MI Support Payment Center)
MiChildSupport (Access specific information regarding your case)