Here are some helpful tips that can help make paying or receiving child support easier. Understanding how child support is processed and what is expected or needed from you helps to resolve issues quickly, avoids interruptions in child support, and avoids arrears.

Tip #1: Both parties need a copy of the most current order, which is your “map.” Each support case has a “Uniform Child Support Order” or UCSO. The UCSO has a start date for child support called the “effective date.”

Tip #2: Both parties need to stay in touch with the Friend of the Court.  Parties are court ordered to keep their addresses, phone numbers and employers up-to-date with the Friend of the Court. Having a current address for both parties is very important so that both parties actually receive notices of court dates and other changes. If a party does not get notices of court dates, this could mean he/she will not have a chance to have his/her voice heard by the court and a change could occur without his/her input.

Tip #3: If either party has any changes in circumstances, such as medical conditions, incarceration, your child(ren) moving in with you, or if there is a third-party custodian, this could mean a change or redirection of support. Contact the Friend of the Court’s office immediately for such changes. Some changes can be done administratively by our office without court action. Other changes will require you to file a motion to ask for court action. Our office has form motions for you to use, with instructions, if you choose not to use an attorney. A good resource for parties without an attorney is michiganlegalhelp.org.

Tips for Support Payers:  If you are employed, we will send a notice to withhold to your employer.  Once you see support is coming out of your check, you can stop paying support if your support payments are current.  It is your responsibility to pay support regardless of what your employer does or does not do. Make your payments to the Michigan State Disbursement Unit in Lansing. Be sure to get temporary coupons to send in with your check to the MISDU. The website for the MISDU is misdu.com and from this site you can get temporary coupons, forms, information, as well as a link to sign up for MIChildSupport, where you can watch your account activity on-line. You can also make electronic payments on that website.

Tips for Support Recipients: Support is charged once per month for the whole month.  As child support payments come in to MISDU, payments are distributed across all of the payer’s different child support cases.  Once payments have posted to your account equal to the monthly charging amount, support payments made in that same month will either be held until the next month support is due or be distributed against the arrearage or other obligations that the payer may have.  Our office does not take any enforcement action until a month has passed with no payment. A payer of support has a full month to satisfy their monthly obligation before we consider them delinquent. When you are new to the program, support will be issued to you by check for the first couple of payments. With your checks, there will be information regarding receiving payments by direct deposit.  If you do not sign up for direct deposit, a debit card from US bank will be issued and mailed to you.  From that day forward, child support will be transferred to the account associated with your debit card.

Final Tip: Communication is key and we encourage both parents to contact the Friend of the Court any time you have questions. You can reach our office by emailing foc@cassco.org or calling: (269) 445-4436. 

Please also feel free to contact us if you have ideas about topics you would like us to address in future columns by emailing foc@cassco.org.

 

Donella Kujawa is a Cass County Friend of the Court, Financial Case Management Supervisor.