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LANSING - The Department of Human Services' Office
of Child Support will begin disbursing child support
payments electronically in February 2006, for clients of
Livingston County in accordance with state law. This new
law requires all child support payments to be
electronically disbursed via direct deposit into a
personal checking/savings account or to a debit card,
unless recipients meet hardship exception criteria.
Click here
for more info.
Livingston County Friend of the Court
Important Notice
Please read thoroughly and bookmark for future reference
The Livingston County Friend of the Court would like to provide you with
information regarding major upcoming changes in our office functions
mandated by the State of Michigan.
These changes will allow us to better service the needs of parents and
children. New technologies required by the State of Michigan will allow
us to connect with other Friend of the Court offices, as well as the
Family Independence Agency, and the Prosecutor’s Offices and provide us
with some additional enforcement tools, such as New Hire information,
credit agency reporting, and information about professional, driving and
sporting licenses.
We appreciate your required patience while these changes in technology
take place. There will be some delays in services, such as returned
phone calls, letters, forms and mailing of checks, but our goal is to do
everything we can to make these changes as easy as possible for you.
Please allow a few extra days for Friend of the Court documents to reach
you. It may be longer for checks to reach you, as they will be mailed
through the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU).
Melissa A. Scharrer,
Livingston County Friend of the Court
CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES
̃ The statewide Michigan Child Support Enforcement System (MiCSES)
will be implemented in Livingston County, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2003. All
counties in the State of Michigan will be using this system as of
October 1, 2003.
̃ Central Enforcement – Income withholding order, credit bureau
reporting, tax offset intercepts, support review notices and passport
denials will be handled by the Central Enforcement Office.
̃ Payments and checks – Central processing of payments. Starting
10/1/03, the Friend of the Court will only accept payments in the form
of CASH or CREDIT CARD. Federal laws require that all payments AFTER
OCTOBER 1ST be made to the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU). If
a payer attempts to make a payment at the Friend of the Court office in
any form other than CASH or CREDIT CARD after 10/1/03, he or she will be
given a pre-addressed envelope to mail the payment directly to the MiSDU.
The exception to this rule is that payment will be accepted at the FOC
if directed by an FOC employee or the Judge for fees, costs, or fines.
These payments must be made in the form of CASH, MONEY ORDER, CREDIT
CARD, or OFFICIAL/CASHIER’S CHECK. Personal checks will not be accepted.
After October 1st, support checks will be printed and mailed from the
MiSDU. They will look different from the former FOC checks. If you do
not receive your payment, you must contact the MiSDU central customer
service unit through the Friend of the Court IVR system at (517)
546-0230. Please do not contact the Friend of the Court to request the
status of your support check.
̃ Distribution to Multiple Cases – If a payer has more than one
case in this or another county, it is possible that a payment may be
distributed with a partial payment to each case rather than all of the
withholding to one case. This is required by federal regulations.
̃ Electronic Funds Transfers (direct deposit) – If you would like
to sign up for direct deposit with the MiSDU, a form is available by
contacting the FOC Office or you may print the form from the FOC website
at http://co.livingston.mi.us/FriendoftheCourt/. the Friend of the Court
office. Please follow the instructions on the form and mail it to the
address listed at the bottom of the form for the MiSDU. If you change
bank accounts after signing up for direct deposit, you will need to
notify the MiSDU. If you currently have cases in more than one county
with more than one account for direct deposit, you will need to change
them all to one bank account.
̃ Coupons – Payers who do not have an income withholding order
will receive notices shortly after 10/1/03 instructing them to submit
support payments directly to the MiSDU, not to the Friend of the Court.
Payers will be receiving coupons by mail from the MiSDU.
The exception to this rule is if you have been directed by an FOC
employee or Judge to make the payment here at the FOC for fees, fines,
or costs. These payments must be made in the form of CASH, MONEY ORDER,
CREDIT CARD, or OFFICIAL/CASHIER’s CHECK. Personal checks will not be
accepted.
̃ Address Changes – Must be reported in writing to the MiSDU or
to the Friend of the Court office. Forms are available on the FOC
website at http://co.livingston.mi.us/FriendoftheCourt/, the FOC office
or by calling the central customer service unit through the Friend of
the Court IVR system at (517) 546-0230.
̃ Parenting Time Credit – Credit for parenting time will be
applied directly to the case and can be refunded ONLY in the instances
where ALL of the payer’s cases are paid up to date. Direct refunds for
parenting time abatements will no longer be issued.
̃ Credit Card Payments – Credit card payments will continue to be
accepted by the Livingston County Friend of the Court. This office
accepts VISA and MasterCard.
NEW DISTRIBUTION
In accordance to the State and Federal requirements, all child support
obligations will be modified to a monthly amount effective 10/1/03. This
amount is calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by 4.35 as
directed by the Supreme Court Administrative Office. Payments from
employers will continue to be processed as they are received and this
change should not affect the frequency of payments.
MiCSES is a federally mandated computer program, which follows
specific federal payment procedures. The program will disburse money
according to the new rules. Current child support will be paid first and
child support arrearages will go to the families before going to pay
back money owed to the State of Michigan. Under the new distribution
guidelines, payees may find that the support payments received early in
the month may be more than they are accustomed to receiving. Later in
the month, your child support payment may be reduced as the monthly
obligation to you is paid and the payment is used to cover other
obligations. If a payer has cases in multiple counties, this may affect
your child support payment amounts, especially tax offset distribution.
INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM - DIAL
517-546-0230
A new INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM (IVR) will be implemented
at the same time as the new computer system. There will be some changes
to the procedure that you will use to access your case information.
There will also be general information about the Friend of Court
services available through this line. This is the easiest and quickest
way to get account information. Please use the IVR before you contact
your caseworker.
YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE MICHIGAN STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT
through the IVR system.
Information regarding the Livingston County Friend of the Court and the
services we offer can also be found at: http://co.livingston.mi.us/FriendoftheCourt/.
The Friend of the Court website provides general information about our
procedures, as well as information regarding how to contact our office,
the FOC Handbook, and
forms. The forms currently available for download from our website
include:
Livingston County Court Forms
Change of Name and/or Address
Complaint For Enforcement Of Health
Care Expense Payment
Request For Health Care Expense Payment
Direct Deposit Request
Request for Direct Payment Credit
Employment
Verification
Praecipe for Friend of the
Court Referee - General
Praecipe for Objections to Referee Recommendation
Temporary Payment Coupon
Visitation Abatement
Divorce Filing
Requirements
Motion Schedule & Filing Information
Filing Fees
Motion/Stipulation of Adjournment
Request for Hearing on a Motion
(Praecipe) Judges Michael P. Hatty, David Reader, Carol
Hackett-Garagiola
Request for Hearing on a Motion
(Praecipe) Judges Theresa Brennan, Suzanne Geddis, Carol Sue
Reader
Request for Hearing, Referee
Appeal
Copy
Request Form
Record Validation Request Form
 ADOBE
ACROBAT READER is required to access the forms on the website and it
is available to download from the website free of charge.
Per state law, MCL 600.2538, effective October 1, 2003, the Friend of
the Court processing fee will increase from $1.25 to $1.50 per month for
every person required to make payments of support or maintenance for
every month or portion of a month that support or maintenance is
required to be paid. The $.25 increase will go toward the costs for the
Attorney General Operations fund.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER - 2003
September 24 – 30, - This week is the time for physical
conversion to MiCSES and all payments will be forwarded to the MI State
Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) for disbursement after the 10/1/03 conversion
date. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE FRIEND OF THE COURT OFFICE TO REQUEST THE
STATUS OF YOUR SUPPORT CHECK.
October 1 – 3, 6-10 – This is the week following conversion.
Friend of the Court staff will be adapting to the new computer system
but will be available to accept emergency telephone calls. You should
access the Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVR) at (517) 546-0230 for
payment, account, or enforcement information.
Livingston County Friend of the Court
P.O. Box 707
Howell, MI 48844-0707
Please Note: The Livingston County Friend of the Court will be
converting to a new computer system in accordance to State and Federal
requirements. Certain functions of this office will be delayed due to
this change.
Financial information will not be available to view or change during the
transition period of September 24, 2003 – October 1, 2003.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we all go through
this difficult transition.
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