Muskegon County Family Court

Public Health info for Tuesday March 3 11am-3pm

📣 Did You Know? You Can’t Change a Court Order Just Because You Told the FOC!

Many parents think the Friend of the Court (FOC) can change custody, parenting time, or support orders for them — but that’s not true. 🙅‍♂️

✔️ The FOC can help enforce orders, investigate issues, calculate support, and recommend changes.

❌ But only a judge can actually change an order — not the FOC. Even if both parents agree to a change, the court must sign a new order before it’s official.

If you’re thinking about a change, it’s important to create a new order both parents agree to or file the right motion with the court and follow the legal process — not just tell the FOC. ⚖️

Want help navigating this? Reach out to us at 616-632-6888. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

📣 Did You Know? The FOC Helps Calculate Child Support — But Doesn’t Set the Final Amount!

A lot of parents are surprised to learn how the child support process actually works. 💡

Here’s how it really works in Michigan:

✔️ The FOC can:
• Gather financial information from parents
• Use the Michigan Child Support Formula to calculate support amounts
• Make written support recommendations to the court
• Review support for possible adjustment when requested

❗ BUT — the FOC does not decide support on its own.
Only the court can order or change the support amount. ⚖️

🔎 Important note:
Support isn’t based on who “files first” or who “asks for more” — it’s based on the Michigan Child Support Formula, which considers things like income, overnights, childcare costs, healthcare, and more.

💬 If you want support reviewed or updated, you can:
1️⃣ Submit a written request for a review to the FOC (usually once every 3 years), or
2️⃣ File a motion with the court for a change

📌 Why this matters:
Parents sometimes think the FOC “decided” support — but the FOC is actually doing the math and making recommendations. The judge signs the order that makes it official.

If you’re unsure where to start, your local FOC can explain the review process and what information you’ll need. 👍

Please note, Family Court Services will be closed Thursday morning December 4, 2025 for an all staff meeting. We will open to the public @ 9:45am.