Friend of the Court Bureau

Frequently Asked Questions

These frequently asked questions (FAQs) contain answers to questions related to existing policies, issues, or practices.

FAQs by Year 

2020 issues

2019 ISSUES

2018 Issues

2013 Issues

•  FAQ 2013-01 - Retroactive Modification of Child Support Obligation

2012 Issues

FAQ 2012-02 - Completing the 2012 SCAO 41 Friend of the Court Statistical Report

FAQ 2012-01 - Custody & Parenting Time Enforcement Following a Good Cause Determination
See SCAO Administrative Memorandum 2002-11: Guidelines for Enforcement of Custody and Parenting Time Violations
See SCAO Administrative Memorandum 2001-09: Friend of the Court Support Case Administrative Closure Criteria

 

2011 Issues

FAQ 2011-01 - Uniform Support Order Requirements
See Model LAO 37: Failure to Submit a Current Version of a Uniform Support Order

  

2009 Issues

FAQ 2009-02 - Criminal History Background Checks: Clarification of Administrative Memorandum 2009-01

 

2008 Issues

FAQ 2008-02 - Ordering Child Support in Child Protective Proceedings

 

2007 Issues

FAQ 2007-02 - Prisoner Account Withholding for Support

FAQ 2007-01 - Using Cash Bonds to Secure Future Child Support

 

2005 Issues

FAQ 2005-02 - MCR 3.211 Amendments Effective January 1, 2006

FAQ 2005-01 - Determining, Changing, or Suppressing Addresses
(See also FAQ 2009-01)

 

2004 Issues

FAQ 2004-02 - Lump Sum Payments and Processing

FAQ 2004-01 - Judgment Entry Fee

 

2003 Issues

• FAQ 2003-02 - Bank Account Transfer and Post-Transition Payment Processing
• FAQ 2003-01 - Converting & Prorating Monthly Support Amounts
  Attachment: Converting Monthly Orders
  
  Use ProRateCS_PTA.xls (link below) for converting or prorating support amounts and for calculating parenting time abatements. Note that the CLEAR function within the spreadsheet uses a macro. If you have your macro security set to HIGH, the macro will be disabled and not run. If you do not enable the macro, you will need to re-open the file every time you want to calculate a new amount.
  
  To enable the macro, before opening the ProRateCS_PTA.xls file (and after obtaining permission from your network administrator) open Excel, go to TOOLS, MACROS, SECURITY, select MEDIUM on the Security Level tab, then enter OK. When the macro security has been set to MEDIUM, right click the ProRateCS_PTA.xls link below, choose SAVE TARGET AS, and save the file to your computer. Open the file using Excel and, when asked, select ENABLE MACROS.  Open the ProRateCS_PTA.xls file.

 

FAQs by Subject

• ADR - FAQ 2020-04​

• Bank Account Transfer and Post-Transition Payment Processing - FAQ 2003-02

• Completing the 2012 SCAO 41 Friend of the Court Statistical Report - FAQ 2012-02

• Converting & Prorating Monthly Support Amounts - FAQ 2003-01

• Custody & Parenting Time Enforcement Following a Good Cause Determination - FAQ 2012-01
  See SCAO Administrative Memorandum 2002-11: Guidelines for Enforcement of Custody and Parenting Time Violations
  See SCAO Administrative Memorandum 2001-09: Friend of the Court SupportCase Administrative Closure Criteria

• ​ Friend of the Court Best Practices for Payment Drop Boxes - FAQ 2020-05​
• Friend of the Court Case Closure - FAQ 2020-03​​

• Friends of the Court Changing Legal Addresses - FAQ 2020-02​

• Judgment Entry Fee - FAQ 2004-01

• Lump Sum Payments and Processing - FAQ 2004-02

• MCR 3.211 Amendments Effective January 1, 2006 - FAQ 2005-02

• Ordering Child Support in Child Protective Proceedings - FAQ 2008-02

• Prisoner Account Withholding for Support - FAQ 2007-02

• Retroactive Modification of Child Support Obligation - FAQ 2013-01

• Uniform Support Order Requirements - FAQ 2011-01
  See Model LAO 37: Failure to Submit a Current Version of a Uniform Support Order

• Using Cash Bonds to Secure Future Child Support - FAQ 2007-01

• Vehicle Liens - FAQ 2016-01