If you are required to make child support payments, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the Friend of the Court in Port Huron. Friend of the Court serves as part of the family division of the 31st Circuit Court in St. Clair County, and circuit courts throughout Michigan have their own FOC offices.
The Port Huron Friend of the Court through the Family Division of the St. Clair County Circuit Court addresses only issues of custody, parenting time, and support. It does not investigate child abuse or neglect.
The FOC office has existed since 1919 and is generally best known for its role in child support and mediation of parenting time. It is responsible for:
- Investigating, reporting, and making recommendations to the court regarding custody, parenting time, and support.
- Providing mediation to settle disputes over custody and parenting time as necessary.
- Providing enforcement services regarding custody, parenting time, and support order obligations.
The amount of child support required from a parent is based on factors including the parents’ income, the number of nights the child spends with each parent, the number of children, and health care and child care costs.
The Friend of the Court in Port Huron cannot give legal advice. However, interviews of parties involved in the custodial issue may be interviewed at an FOC office.
If a parent is required to make child support payments, he or she must continue to do so even if the child lives in a different state. The Friend of the Court would continue to enforce the court order.
In St. Clair County, mediation services regarding custody and parenting time may be provided by a mediator on staff in the Friend of the Court Office. However, child support cannot be mediated. Child support is calculated based on a Michigan Child Support Formula.
Tags: Child Support, Friend of the Court, Port Huron, St. Clair County Court