Telephone System – You will need to call one of two numbers depending on the nature of your call. Following is an explanation of which telephone number you need to call for different services:
If you want to obtain specific case information 24 hours a day, you will need to dial (269)655-1946. This is the number for the Interactive Voice Response system (IVR). This will include things such as last payment and balance, last month’s payment summary, support show cause hearing information, income withholding information, etc. You will also need to dial this number to 1) report stolen or lost checks, 2) to sign up for, or to change information for the direct deposit of child support payments, or 3) to re-set your Personal Identification Number (PIN). As of August 22, 2003 the Friend of the Court Office no longer has the responsibility for these items. The State of Michigan has assumed the responsibility for these services.
If you need to speak to a person in the Friend of the Court Office you will need to dial (269)657-7734. You should call this number if you have any questions regarding parenting time or custody, or if you have questions that cannot be answered by using the IVR.
Checks - Your child support checks, refunds, abatements, etc. are not processed at the Friend of the Court Office. The responsibility for processing payments and mailing payments is handled in Lansing, Michigan, by the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU). If you receive mail from the MiSDU, please do not throw it away - it could be your child support payment, or an important notice from the State of Michigan or from the Friend of the Court Office.
Payments - Payments are to be submitted to: MiSDU, P.O. Box 30351, Lansing, MI 48909-7851. Your check or money order must include the following: your name, social security number, your court case number, county code 80, and FIPS code 26159. Payers are provided coupons by the MiSDU. If you have an order to pay support and you do not have an effective wage withholding order in place, you will receive coupons to be used when you pay your support. These coupons are printed and mailed by the MiSDU. If your coupon amount differs from your court ordered amount, pay the amount you are ordered to pay. Use these to make sure your payment is properly identified by the MiSDU.
No check or money order payments are accepted by the Friend of the Court Office. Do not send any support payments by check or money order to the Friend of the Court Office. The Friend of the Court only accepts cash payments (in person at the Friend of the Court Office) or credit card payments. Do not mail cash to the Friend of the Court Office or to the MiSDU under any circumstance.
Distribution - A child support payment made by a payer will be applied to all of that payer's Michigan child support cases. The MiSDU is required to follow federal regulations for allocating child support. This means that a payment made by a payer is applied proportionately to all of the payer’s Michigan child support cases. Also it means recipients of support may not always receive the court ordered amount of their support; therefore, they may not always receive the same amount in their check. For more details on the distribution of support, please see the publication entitled “Understanding Child Support Distribution” on this website, or contact the Friend of the Court Office for a copy of this publication.
Charges - Monthly support charges – The law in Michigan requires all weekly support amounts be converted to monthly amounts. The formula established by the State Court Administrative Office is as follows: weekly amount X 4.35 = monthly amount.
Correspondence - You should mail correspondence to the local Friend of the Court Office including: address changes, grievances, etc. Mail only support payments to the MiSDU.
Related Links:
Understanding Child Support Payment Distribution
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