Skip to main content
A Troy Child Support Lawyer Fighting for Your Family Needs
Child support is one of the myriad of difficult issues that must be resolved when couples elect to divorce in Michigan. Unfortunately, all too often a parent will argue for custody of children not entirely because they feel they would be the best custodian of the children, but are also trying to avoid paying child support.
If you are facing child support issues as a result of a divorce in Michigan, let a Troy child support lawyer at Hermiz Law help. Our legal team is experienced with the law regarding child support, and we can help you be sure that your child support rights are protected.
What Does “Child Support” Mean in Michigan?
Child support in Michigan is a court-ordered payment from one former spouse to another to help with the costs of raising the couple’s children. Child support normally starts from the point of divorce and continues through until a child turns 18 years of age, although a judge may order support for a child who is between the ages of 18 and 19 ½ under certain circumstances.
Children in Michigan have a legal right to financial support from both parents, and a parent can’t avoid paying child support by simply agreeing to surrender visitation rights or parental rights. Under certain circumstances, a parent must continue to pay child support even after losing their parental rights.
Who Pays Child Support?
The person who pays child support is the “payer,” and the person who receives child support is the “payee.” The determination of which parent will pay child support and the support amount paid is determined by the Michigan Child Support Formula and is based on various factors such as each parent’s income and the number of nights per year that the child spends with each parent. If the payee or the child receives public assistance, the child support payments may go to the state instead of the payee.
How Are Child Support Payments Collected?
Child support payments are collected by two start departments: (1) The Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU), and (2) Friend of the Court (FOC). Child support payments are automatically deducted from the payer’s wages by the MiSDU. The payer and the payee each receive a copy of the income withholding order when support is automatically collected.
When income withholding, as described above, is not possible, there are other ways to collect payments. The payer can agree to make payments directly to MiSDU, or the parties may agree to an alternative payment solution. If payments are not made through MiSDU, the payee must let the FOC know they received the payments so the payer can receive credit for the payments. This is the case, for example, when the payer is self-employed.
A Troy Child Support Lawyer at Hermiz Law Can Help You With Your Child Support and Other Divorce Issues
Child support payments have an unfortunate history of being difficult to collect. If you’re facing a divorce in Michigan, whether you are the child support payer or payee, we can help you protect your rights.
At Hermiz Law, we understand the law and the realities of child support payments, and we’ll fight for all of your rights in the unfortunate event of a divorce. Contact a Troy child support lawyer today to learn more.