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Local Procedure Information for Attorneys

PLEASE READ: All orders addressing Custody, Parenting Time, Child Support, Spousal Support, and related issues MUST be submitted to the Friend of the Court for review and approval at least 24 hours (not including weekends or holidays) prior to the date and time of entry. Orders for support or spousal support must be on approved Uniform Support Order forms with local Addendum. Temporary Orders and Judgments must be submitted with a Judgment Information Form. Uniform Support Orders for direct payment or $0 support must be accompanied by an Order Exempting Case from Friend of the Court Services, FOC 102, and Advice of Rights regarding Friend of the Court Services, FOC 101.

Referee Hearing. Attorneys or parties may schedule motions to modify Custody, Parenting time, to Change Domicile or Legal Residence, to establish or modify Support, or to Determine Specific Custody or Parenting time and Support by filing the motion and paying the required fees at the Clerks office and obtaining a date and time from the Friend of the Courts Office; a separate order for referral for referee hearing is not necessary for these motions.

Temporary Hearings. In order to expedite consideration of Temporary Orders once a Return of Service is filed, a party or their attorney may request the St. Clair County Friend of the Court to schedule a hearing for a Recommendation for a Temporary Order regarding Custody, Parenting Time, Support, and/or Spousal support. The Friend of the Court will schedule the hearing and send notices for the hearing. At the hearing the Referee will provide a recommendation and require an attorney or party to draft a proposed order pursuant to the recommendation. The Friend of the Court will then send the proposed order consistent with the recommendation with a 21 day notice of right to de novo hearing to the parties and any attorneys of record.

De novo objection. Friend of the Court will send out copies of the proposed order and the notice of right to de novo hearing to the parties and attorneys of record. If a proper and timely objection is received, the Friend of the Court will schedule the de novo hearing with the court and send notices of the de novo hearing to the parties and any attorneys of record. De novo hearings will be conducted during the Friend of the Court docket.

Notice of entry under the 7 day rule. The Court requires that any objections to entry a domestic relations order under the 7 day rule must be served by the objecting party on all parties and attorneys of record, as well as the Friend of the Court, together with a notice of hearing on the objection and a copy of an alternate proposed judgment or order. A Praecipe and filing fee of $20 must accompany the objections and alternate proposed order.

Entry of orders pursuant to Friend of the Court investigation and recommendation: When a recommendation is issued by the Friend of the Court after referral for investigation, the attorney(s) in the case are responsible to prepare a proposed order consistent with the recommendation and notice the matter on before the court. The Court will determine which issues are resolved and whether an evidentiary hearing need to be scheduled.


St. Clair County, Michigan

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