Child Support FAQs

I pay child support and I voluntarily reduced my income. Will my support be reduced?
No. The law states that child support will not be reduced based on a voluntary income reduction.

When making a recommendation for child support, does the Friend of the Court take into account my bills such as car payment, rent, utilities, or credit card debt?
The Michigan Child Support Formula already assumes all persons have certain living expenses. The Friend of the Court cannot deduct additional bills (above and beyond regular living expenses) before calculating support and making a recommendation.

Is the Friend of the Court responsible for making sure that child support money is being spent on the children?
The law does not give the Friend of the Court the authority to dictate how child support payments are to be spent.

I have been paying child support, and the custodial parent is not letting me see my child(ren). Do I have to keep paying support?
Yes. Parenting time and child support matters are two separate parts of a court order, and each area must be handled independently of the other. If your parenting time order has been violated, you may file a parenting time complaint with the Friend of Court.

The other parent is not paying child support as ordered. What can I do?
Once a payer of support has fallen more than 4 weeks behind in support payments, enforcement of child support may be requested in writing.