There are many services available at no or a reduced cost through your county Friend of the Court. Services fall into two categories, parenting and child support. Although many parents say “the Friend of the Court is not your friend” and would rather not deal with the caseworkers, these services can actually be quite helpful.
As for parenting services, the caseworkers help resolve minor disagreements over parenting time, such as who has their child which holiday, that, although important, are too minor to retain an attorney to argue a hearing before the Judge. The caseworkers can also investigate home and family members if either parent believes, and can substantiate with some reasonable amount of proof, that the other parent’s home is unsafe for children. These services can supplement or follow after services with a parenting time coordinator, depending on the language used in the order to appoint a parenting time coordinator when one exists. The caseworkers can also, as a final example, recommend and draft modifications for schedules that will become the Judge’s order.
As for child support services, the caseworkers monitor and document all support payments, and any arrearages or overpayments, and can assist parents with paperwork to reduce, increase or suspend support payments. The caseworkers can also investigate each parent’s income and ability to pay or need to receive support. The caseworkers can also, as a final example, recommend and draft support modification orders that will become the Judge’s orders.
Some parents choose to opt-out of these services, but for young children and/or new divorces, we recommend parents keep their case open to services for at least one year, while the parenting time kinks are worked out.
You can learn more online with the State Friend of the Court Bureau here: http://courts.mi.gov/administration/scao/officesprograms/foc/Pages/default.aspx