Michigan Compiled Laws
Act 294 of 1982 - Friend of the Court Act (552.501 - 552.535)
Section 552.502a - Definitions; M to T.

Sec. 2a.
As used in this act:
(a) "Medical assistance" means medical assistance as established under title XIX of the social security act, 42 USC 1396 to 1396w-5.
(b) "Office" and "office of the friend of the court" mean an agency created in section 3.
(c) "Office of child support" means the office of child support created in section 2 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.232.
(d) "Payer" means a person ordered by the circuit court to pay support.
(e) "Private health care coverage" means health care coverage obtained through an employer or purchased by an individual from an insurer.
(f) "Public assistance" means cash assistance provided under the social welfare act, 1939 PA 280, MCL 400.1 to 400.119b.
(g) "Public health care coverage" means health care coverage that is established or maintained by a local, state, or federal government such as Medicaid established under title XIX of the social security act, 42 USC 1396 to 1396w-5 or the state children's health insurance program established under title XXI of the social security act, 42 USC 1397aa to 1397mm.
(h) "Recipient of support" means the following:
(i) The spouse, if the support order orders spousal support.
(ii) The custodial parent or guardian, if the support order orders support for a minor child or a child who is 18 years of age or older.
(iii) The department, if support has been assigned to that department.
(iv) The county, if the minor is in county-supported foster care.
(i) "State advisory committee" means the committee established by the bureau under section 19.
(j) "State disbursement unit" or "SDU" means the entity established in section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.236.
(k) "Support" means all of the following:
(i) The payment of money for a child or a spouse ordered by the circuit court, whether the order is embodied in an interim, temporary, permanent, or modified order or judgment. Support may include payment of the expenses of medical, dental, and other health care, child care expenses, and educational expenses.
(ii) The payment of money ordered by the circuit court under the paternity act, 1956 PA 205, MCL 722.711 to 722.730, for the necessary expenses connected to the pregnancy of the mother or the birth of the child, or for the repayment of genetic testing expenses.
(iii) A surcharge under section 3a of the support and parenting time enforcement act, MCL 552.603a.
(l) "Support and parenting time enforcement act" means 1982 PA 295, MCL 552.601 to 552.650.
(m) "Support order" means an order entered by the circuit court for the payment of support in a sum certain, whether in the form of a lump sum or a periodic payment.
(n) "Title IV-D" means part D of title IV of the social security act, 42 USC 651 to 669b.
(o) "Title IV-D agency" means that term as defined in section 2 of the support and parenting time enforcement act, MCL 552.602.
History: Add. 1996, Act 366, Eff. Jan. 1, 1997 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 150, Imd. Eff. Nov. 3, 1999 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 571, Eff. June 1, 2003 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 210, Eff. Oct. 1, 2004 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 233, Imd. Eff. Jan. 8, 2010 ;-- Am. 2019, Act 27, Imd. Eff. June 20, 2019 Popular Name: Friend of the Court

Structure Michigan Compiled Laws

Michigan Compiled Laws

Chapter 552 - Divorce

Act 294 of 1982 - Friend of the Court Act (552.501 - 552.535)

Section 552.501 - Short Title; Purposes and Construction of Act.

Section 552.502 - Definitions; a to I.

Section 552.502a - Definitions; M to T.

Section 552.503 - Office of the Friend of the Court; Creation in Judicial Circuit; Exception; Separate Office in County; Vacancy; Merger; Head of Office as Friend of the Court; Friend of the Court as Employee of Circuit Court; Performance of Duties;...

Section 552.504 - Citizen Friend of the Court Advisory Committee; Establishment; Composition; Appointment; Vacancy; Terms; Election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson; Court Administrative Office Guidelines; Term Limitation.

Section 552.504a - Citizen Advisory Committee; Scope; Duties; Subcommittees; Meetings Open to the Public; Exception.

Section 552.504b - Information and Records to Be Provided to Citizen Advisory Committee.

Section 552.504c - Information and Records as Confidential; Disclosure; Penalty; Grounds for Dismissal.

Section 552.505 - Duties of Friend of the Court; Failure of Party to Attend Scheduled Meeting; Charging Parties for Investigation, Report and Recommendations; Waiver or Suspension of Fees; Disposition of Money Collected.

Section 552.505a - Open Friend of the Court Case; Closure.

Section 552.507 - Referee; Designation by Chief Judge; Powers; Transcript of Hearing; Cost; De Novo Court Hearing; Request; Interim Order; Review.

Section 552.507a - Making Report, Recommendation, and Supporting Documents Available to Attorneys and Parties; Informing Parties in Child Custody Dispute or Guardian Concerning Preference Expressed by Child; Availability of Information.

Section 552.508 - Expediting Relief; Methods.

Section 552.509 - Duties of Office Regarding Support Payments Providing Statement of Account to Parties; Initiating and Carrying Out Proceedings to Enforce Order Regarding Custody, Parenting Time, Health Care Coverage or Support; Enforcement Orders E...

Section 552.509a - Centralized Receipt and Disbursement of Support and Fees.

Section 552.511 - Initiating Enforcement of Support Order and Custody or Parenting Time Order; Procedure; Arrearage; Amnesty.

Section 552.511a - Payment of Health Care Expense; Complaint; Sending Copy of Complaint and Notice to Parent; Objection; Hearing.

Section 552.511b - Custody or Parenting Time Order Violations; Complaint; Sending Copy of Complaint to Individual Accused of Interfering; Action.

Section 552.512 - Reporting Information to Consumer Reporting Agency.

Section 552.513 - Alternative Dispute Resolution; Approval of Plan; "Protection Order" Defined; Agreement; Consent Order; Confidentiality of Communication; Qualifications of Person Providing Domestic Relations Mediation or Other Forms of Alternative...

Section 552.515 - Certain Actions by Employee Providing Domestic Relations Mediation; Prohibition.

Section 552.517 - Review of Child Support Order After Final Judgment; Modification Order; Calculations; Petition for Modification; Scheduling of Hearing; Petition to Require Dependent Health Care Coverage; Use of Guidelines; Costs.

Section 552.517a - Repealed. 2002, Act 571, Imd. Eff. Oct. 3, 2002.

Section 552.517b - Review of Order; Notice of Right to Request; Notice of Review; Calculation of Support Amount; Objection; Joint Meeting Expediting Resolution of Support Issues; Provisions; Modification; Frequency of Review.

Section 552.517c - Review of Support Order in Another State; Procedures.

Section 552.517d - Motion for Modification of Parenting Time Order.

Section 552.517e - Arrearage Payment Schedules; Administrative Adjustment.

Section 552.517f - Abatement of Child Support Order Upon Incarceration of 180 Days or More; Notice; Objection and Administrative Review; Modification of Order.

Section 552.518 - Information From Employer or Former Employer Relative to Parent.

Section 552.519 - State Friend of the Court Bureau; Creation; Supervision and Direction; Main Office; Duties; State Advisory Committee; Report or Recommendation; Reimbursement for Expenses; Meetings; Assistance.

Section 552.520 - Information Requested by Department of Human Services.

Section 552.521 - Person Appointed as Friend of the Court Under Former Act; Continuation; Transfer of Files, Records, Funds, and Pending Cases of Office Under Former Act; Employees of Friend of the Court Appointed Under Former Act to Become Employees...

Section 552.522 - Appointment of Attorney to Assist Friend of the Court; Compensation.

Section 552.523 - Vacancy; Appointment of Person to Position of Friend of the Court or Interim Friend of the Court; Experience or Education.

Section 552.524 - Annual Review of Performance Record of Friend of the Court; Public Notice and Comments; Written Evaluation; Written Response; Copies.

Section 552.525 - Removal of Friend of the Court; Approval.

Section 552.526 - Grievance Procedure; Record; Powers and Duties of Citizen Advisory Committee.

Section 552.527 - Compensation and Expenses of Friend of the Court and Employees.

Section 552.528 - Compilation of Data.

Section 552.531 - Repealed. 1996, Act 366, Eff. Jan. 1, 1997.

Section 552.533 - Repeal of MCL 552.251 to 552.255.

Section 552.534 - Conditional Effective Date.

Section 552.535 - Effective Date.