Source: http://www.divorceonline.com/michigan-divorce-laws/
Timestamp: 2018-01-24 09:39:45
Document Index: 707202613

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1396', '§ 1169', '§ 651', '§ 1673', '§ 1673', '§ 653', '§ 552', '§ 552']

Divorce Online | Divorce Resources | Legal, Financial & Counseling | State Statutes - Michigan Divorce Laws
Sec. 2. In case of a marriage solemnized when either of the parties was under the age of legal consent, if they shall separate during such non-age, and not cohabit together afterwards, or in case the consent of 1 of the parties was obtained by force or fraud, and there shall have been no subsequent voluntary cohabitation of the parties, the marriage shall be deemed void, without any decree of divorce or other legal process.
Sec. 3. When a marriage is supposed to be void, or the validity thereof is doubted, for any of the causes mentioned in the 2 preceding sections; either party, excepting in the cases where a contrary provision is hereinafter made, may file a petition or bill in the circuit court of the county where the parties, or 1 of them, reside, or in the court of chancery, for annulling the same, and such petition or bill shall be filed, and proceedings shall be had thereon, as in the case of a petition or bill filed in said court for a divorce; and upon due proof of the nullity of the marriage, it shall be declared void by a decree or sentence of nullity.
Sec. 4. When the validity of any marriage shall be denied or doubted by either of the parties, the other party may file a bill or petition in the manner aforesaid, for affirming the marriage; and upon due proof of the validity thereof, it shall be declared valid by a decree or sentence of the court; and such decree, unless reversed on appeal, shall be conclusive upon all persons concerned.
Sec. 6. (1) A complaint for divorce may be filed in the circuit court upon the allegation that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. In the complaint the plaintiff shall make no other explanation of the grounds for divorce than by the use of the statutory language.
Sec. 7. (1) An action for separate maintenance may be filed in the circuit court in the same manner and on the same grounds as an action for divorce. In the complaint the plaintiff shall make no other explanation of the grounds for separate maintenance than by use of the statutory language.
Sec. 9a. No decree of divorce shall be granted in any case except when 1 of the following facts exists:
Sec. 9e. Whenever the cause for divorce charged in the bill or petition has occurred out of this state, no decree of divorce shall be granted unless the complainant or defendant shall have resided in this state 1 year immediately preceding the filing of the bill of complaint for the divorce. Absence from this state for not to exceed 90 days shall not be construed as to interfere with the fulfillment of the 1-year residence requirement provided in the case of causes for divorce occurring without this state.
Sec. 9f. No proofs or testimony shall be taken in any case for divorce until the expiration of 60 days from the time of filing the bill of complaint, except where the cause for divorce is desertion, or when the testimony is taken conditionally for the purpose of perpetuating such testimony. In every case where there are dependent minor children under the age of 18 years, no proofs or testimony shall be taken in such cases for divorce until the expiration of 6 months from the day the bill of complaint is filed. In cases of unusual hardship or such compelling necessity as shall appeal to the conscience of the court, upon petition and proper showing, it may take testimony at any time after the expiration of 60 days from the time of filing the bill of complaint. Testimony may be taken conditionally at any time for the purpose of perpetuating such testimony. When the defendant in any case for divorce is not domiciled in this state at the time of commencing the suit or shall not have been domiciled herein at the time the cause for divorce arose, before any decree of divorce shall be granted the complainant must prove that the parties have actually lived and cohabited together as husband and wife within this state, or that the complainant has in good faith resided in this state for 1 year immediately preceding the filing of the bill of complaint for divorce.
Sec. 11. An action for a divorce may be brought by a wife or a husband, and in all cases the respondent may answer the bill without oath or affirmation.
552.13 Alimony; conservation of property; litigation expenses.
Sec. 14. (1) On the motion of a party at any time after the filing of a complaint in an action to annul a marriage or for a divorce or separate maintenance, the court may at any time during the pendency of the action prohibit a party from imposing any restraint on the moving party's personal liberty by entering a personal protection order under section 2950 or 2950a of the revised judicature act of 1961, Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, being sections 600.2950 and 600.2950a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
(1) After the filing of a complaint in an action to annul a marriage or for a divorce or separate maintenance, on the motion of either party or the friend of the court, or on the court's own motion, the court may enter orders concerning the care, custody, and support of the minor children of the parties during the pendency of the action as prescribed in section 5 of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605, and as the court considers proper and necessary. Subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605b, the court may also order support as provided in this subsection for the parties' children who are not minor children.
(2) An order concerning the support of a child of the parties is governed by and is enforceable as provided in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.601 to 552.650.
(1) Upon annulling a marriage or entering a judgment of divorce or separate maintenance, the court may enter the orders it considers just and proper concerning the care, custody, and, as prescribed in section 5 of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605, support of a minor child of the parties. Subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605b, the court may also order support as provided in this subsection for the parties' children who are not minor children.
(2) An order concerning the support of a child of the parties is governed by and is enforceable as provided in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.601 to 552.650. If this act contains a specific provision regarding the contents or enforcement of a support order that conflicts with a provision in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.601 to 552.650, this act controls in regard to that provision.
552.17a Jurisdiction of court; contempt, waiver.
(1) The court has jurisdiction to make an order or judgment relative to the minor children of the parties as authorized in this chapter to award custody of each child to 1 of the parties or a third person until each child has attained the age of 18 years and may require either parent to pay for the support of each child until each child attains that age. Subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605b, the court may also order support as authorized in this chapter for a child of the parties to provide support for the child after the child reaches 18 years of age.
Sec. 18. (1) Any rights in and to vested pension, annuity, or retirement benefits, or accumulated contributions in any pension, annuity, or retirement system, payable to or on behalf of a party on account of service credit accrued by the party during marriage shall be considered part of the marital estate subject to award by the court under this chapter.
(3) Upon motion of a party or upon consent of the parties, an order of the court under this section entered before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection shall be amended to satisfy the requirements of an eligible domestic relations order and to effectuate the intent of the parties or the ruling of the court. As used in this subsection, "eligible domestic relations order" means a domestic relations order that is an eligible domestic relations order under the eligible domestic relations order act.
Sec. 19. Upon the annulment of a marriage, a divorce from the bonds of matrimony or a judgment of separate maintenance, the court may make a further judgment for restoring to either party the whole, or such parts as it shall deem just and reasonable, of the real and personal estate that shall have come to either party by reason of the marriage, or for awarding to either party the value thereof, to be paid by either party in money.
Sec. 20. Upon every divorce, and upon every divorce from bed and board for any cause, if any real and personal estate of either party, or money in lieu of the real or personal estate is awarded to either party as provided in section 19, the court, instead of ordering it to be delivered or paid to either party, may order it to be delivered or paid to a trustee or trustees, to be appointed by the court, upon trust to invest it, and to apply the income from it to the support and maintenance of either party, and of the children of the marriage, or any of them, in the manner as the court shall direct.
Sec. 21. Such trustees shall also pay over the principal sum to either party and children of the marriage, when ordered by the court, in such proportions, and at such times as the court shall direct, regard being had, in the disposition of the income, as well as of the principal sum, to the situation and circumstances of either party and their children; and the trustees shall give such bonds as the court shall require, for the faithful performance of their trust.
Sec. 22. Whenever the court shall think proper to award to either party any of the real and personal estate of either party, or any money in lieu thereof, such court may require either party to disclose on oath, what real and personal estate has come to either party by reason of the marriage, and how it has been disposed of, and what portion thereof still remains in the hands of either party.
52.23 Judgment of divorce or separate maintenance; further award of real and personal estate; transmittal of payments to family independence agency; service fee; computation, payment, and disposition; failure or refusal to pay service fee; contempt; "state disbursement unit" or "SDU" defined.
Sec. 23. (1) Upon entry of a judgment of divorce or separate maintenance, if the estate and effects awarded to either party are insufficient for the suitable support and maintenance of either party and any children of the marriage as are committed to the care and custody of either party, the court may further award to either party the part of the real and personal estate of either party and spousal support out of the real and personal estate, to be paid to either party in gross or otherwise as the court considers just and reasonable, after considering the ability of either party to pay and the character and situation of the parties, and all the other circumstances of the case.
(2) Upon certification by a county family independence agency that a complainant or petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter is receiving public assistance either personally or for children of the marriage, payments received by the friend of the court or the state disbursement unit for the support and education of the children or maintenance of the party shall be transmitted to the family independence agency.
(3) To reimburse the county for the cost of enforcing a spousal or child support order or a parenting time order, the court shall order the payment of a service fee of $2.00 per month, payable semiannually on each January 2 and July 2. The service fee shall be paid by the person ordered to pay the spousal or child support. The service fee shall be computed from the beginning date of the spousal or child support order and shall continue while the spousal or child support order is operative. The service fee shall be paid 6 months in advance on each due date, except for the first payment, which shall be paid at the same time the spousal or child support order is filed, and covers the period of time from that month until the next calendar due date. An order or judgment that provides for the payment of temporary or permanent spousal or child support that requires collection by the friend of the court or the SDU shall provide for the payment of the service fee. Upon its own motion, a court may amend such an order or judgment for the payment of temporary or permanent spousal or child support to provide for the payment of the service fee in the amount provided by this subsection, upon proper notice to the person ordered to pay the spousal or child support. The service fees shall be turned over to the county treasurer and credited to the general fund of the county. If the court appoints the friend of the court custodian, receiver, trustee, or escrow agent of assets owned by the husband and wife, or either of them, the court may fix the amount of the fee for such service, to be turned over to the county treasurer and credited to the general fund of the county. The court may hold in contempt a person who fails or refuses to pay a fee ordered under this subsection.
(4) As used in this act, "state disbursement unit" or "SDU" means the entity established in section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, M.C.L. 400.236.
552.24 Transition to centralized receipt and disbursement of support and fees.
Sec. 24. The department, the SDU, and each office of the friend of the court shall cooperate in the transition to the centralized receipt and disbursement of support and fees. An office of the friend of the court shall continue to receive and disburse support and fees through the transition, based on the schedule developed as required by section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, M.C.L. 400.236, and modifications to that schedule as the department considers necessary.
Sec. 27. If alimony or an allowance for the support and education of the children is awarded to either party, the amount of the alimony or allowance constitutes a lien upon the real and personal estate of the adverse party as provided in section 25a of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.65a. The court may do 1 or more of the following if the party defaults on the payment of the amount awarded:
552.28 Revision and alteration of judgments for alimony or other allowances or appointment of trustees; subsequent judgments.
Sec. 28. On petition of either party, after a judgment for alimony or other allowance for either party or a child, or after a judgment for the appointment of trustees to receive and hold property for the use of either party or a child, and subject to section 17, the court may revise and alter the judgment, respecting the amount or payment of the alimony or allowance, and also respecting the appropriation and payment of the principal and income of the property held in trust, and may make any judgment respecting any of the matters that the court might have made in the original action.
Sec. 29. The legitimacy of all children begotten before the commencement of any action under this act shall be presumed until the contrary be shown.
Sec. 30. Upon the dissolution of a marriage because of a party's non-age at the time of the marriage, or because a party was otherwise not capable in law of contracting at the time of the marriage, the issue of the marriage are in all respects the legitimate issue of the parent who, at the time of the marriage, was capable of contracting.
Sec. 31. When a marriage is dissolved on account of a prior marriage of either party, and it shall appear that the second marriage was contracted in good faith, and with the full belief of the parties that the former wife or husband was dead, that fact shall be stated in the decree of divorce or nullity; and the issue of such second marriage, born or begotten before the commencement of the suit, shall be deemed to be the legitimate issue of the parent who, at the time of the marriage, was capable of contracting.
Sec. 34. An action to annul a marriage on the ground that 1 of the parties was under the age of legal consent, as provided in section 3 of Act No. 128 of the Public Acts of 1887, being section 551.103 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, may be brought by the parent or guardian entitled to the custody of the minor or by the next friend of the minor, but the marriage shall not be annulled on the application of a party who was of the age of legal consent at the time of the marriage, or when it appears that the parties, after they had attained the age of consent, had freely cohabited as husband and wife.
Sec. 35. If, at the time of a marriage, a party to the marriage was not capable in law of contracting, an individual admitted by the court as the party's next friend may bring an action to annul the marriage.
Sec. 36. A party to a marriage who, at the time of the marriage, was not capable in law of contracting and who later becomes capable in law of contracting may bring an action to annul the marriage. The court shall not, however, annul the marriage if the court finds that the parties cohabited as husband and wife after the party became capable in law of contracting.
Sec. 37. No marriage shall be annulled on the ground of force or fraud, if it shall appear that, at any time before the commencement of the suit, there was a voluntary cohabitation of the parties as husband and wife.
Sec. 38. If there shall be any issue of a marriage, annulled on the ground of force or fraud, the court shall decree their custody to the innocent parent, and may also decree a provision for their education and maintenance out of the estate and property of the guilty party.
Sec. 39. A suit to annul a marriage, on the ground of the physical incapacity of 1 of the parties, shall only be maintained by the injured party, against the party whose incapacity is alleged; and shall, in all cases, be brought within 2 years from the solemnization of the marriage.
Sec. 43. When a decree of divorce from bed and board forever, or for a limited time, shall have been pronounced, it may be revoked at any time thereafter, under such regulations and restrictions as the court may impose, upon the joint application of the parties, and their producing satisfactory evidence of their reconciliation.
552.101 Judgment of divorce or separate maintenance; provision in lieu of dower; determination of spouses' rights in insurance proceeds, pension or retirement benefits.
Sec. 1. (1) When any judgment of divorce or judgment of separate maintenance is granted in any of the courts of this state, it shall be the duty of the court granting the judgment to include in it a provision in lieu of the dower of the wife in the property of the husband, which provision shall be in full satisfaction of all claims that the wife may have in any property which the husband owns or may own in the future, or in which he may have any interest.
(2) Each judgment of divorce or judgment of separate maintenance shall determine all rights of the wife in and to the proceeds of any policy or contract of life insurance, endowment, or annuity upon the life of the husband in which the wife was named or designated as beneficiary, or to which the wife became entitled by assignment or change of beneficiary during the marriage or in anticipation of marriage. If the judgment of divorce or judgment of separate maintenance does not determine the rights of the wife in and to a policy of life insurance, endowment, or annuity, the policy shall be payable to the estate of the husband or to the named beneficiary if the husband so designates. However, the company issuing the policy shall be discharged of all liability on the policy by payment of its proceeds in accordance with the terms of the policy, unless before the payment the company receives written notice, by or on behalf of the insured or the estate of the insured or 1 of the heirs of the insured, or any other person having an interest in the policy, of a claim under the policy and the divorce.
(3) Each judgment of divorce or judgment of separate maintenance shall determine all rights of the husband in and to the proceeds of any policy or contract of life insurance, endowment, or annuity upon the life of the wife in which the husband was named or designated as beneficiary, or to which he became entitled by assignment or change of beneficiary during the marriage or in anticipation of marriage. If the judgment of divorce or judgment of separate maintenance does not determine the rights of the husband in and to the policy of life insurance, endowment, or annuity, the policy shall be payable to the estate of the wife, or to the named beneficiary if the wife so designates. However, the company issuing the policy shall be discharged of all liability on the policy by payment of the proceeds in accordance with the terms of the policy, unless before the payment the company receives written notice, by or on behalf of the insured or the estate of the insured or 1 of the heirs of the insured, or any other person having an interest in the policy, of a claim under the policy and the divorce.
(4) Each judgment of divorce or judgment of separate maintenance shall determine all rights of the husband and wife in and to all of the following:
(c) Any right or contingent right in and to unvested pension, annuity, or retirement benefits.
552.102 Realty owned jointly or by the entirety; effect of divorce without determination of ownership in decree.
Sec. 2. Every husband and wife owning real estate as joint tenants or as tenants by entireties shall, upon being divorced, become tenants in common of such real estate, unless the ownership thereof is otherwise determined by the decree of divorce.
Sec. 3. The bill of complaint or amendment thereto, or the answer or cross bill or amendment thereto, filed in any divorce proceeding may ask that the ownership of the lands described therein and owned by the parties to such suit as joint tenants or as tenants by entireties shall be determined by the decree of divorce, if granted, and in such case the court granting the divorce may award such lands to 1 or the other of said parties, or any part of it to either of them, or may order such lands to be sold under the direction of a circuit court commissioner, and the proceeds thereof divided between the parties in such proportion as the court shall order; or may appoint commissioners to partition such lands between said parties in the proportion fixed by the decree. The proceedings following the appointment of such commissioner shall conform to the law governing the partition of lands between tenants in common.
Sec. 4. A certified copy of any decree granted in a suit for divorce may be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of any county in this state.
552.121 Foreign divorce decree as basis of action at law.
Sec. 1. In all cases where a decree for alimony has been rendered in another state in a case where the party against whom the decree was rendered was present in court or was personally served with process within the jurisdiction of the court, the alimony decreed upon the final hearing may be recovered in an action at law in this state, regardless of whether the same is decreed to be paid in 1 payment or in installments from time to time.
552.122 Stay of proceedings.
Sec. 2. If the defendant in this state shows that he has made proper application in the court of the other state for a reduction or any further order in relation to the alimony in the courts of the other state, the court in this state may stay the proceedings in this state on such terms as it desires to impose.
552.123 Judgment; stay, amendment.
Sec. 3. All judgments in such cases shall be stayed 60 days, and if during said term the defendant in this state presents satisfactory evidence of a change in the decree of the courts of the other state, the court may alter or amend its judgment as to it may seem proper and just.
Sec. 1. In a suit for divorce or separate maintenance, if an order or decree for payment of temporary or permanent alimony, or of support and maintenance for minor children or for children who are 18 years of age or older, has been made, and if the party, plaintiff, or defendant, has appeared in person or by attorney or has been personally served with process within the jurisdiction of the court making the order or decree, then the court may punish by fine or imprisonment, or both, any neglect or violation of the order upon petition of the party whose rights may have been impaired, impeded, or prejudiced by neglect or violation.
552.152 Payments in default; motion; attachment; "state disbursement unit" or "SDU" defined.
Sec. 2. (1) When a decree or order described in section 1 orders payments to be made to the clerk of the court, the friend of the court, or the state disbursement unit and a payment is in default, the party prejudiced may make a motion before the court showing by records in the clerk's or friend of the court's office, or otherwise, that the default has occurred, and the court may issue an attachment to arrest the party in default and bring the party immediately before the court to answer for the default.
(2) As used in this act, "state disbursement unit" or "SDU" means the entity established in section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, M.C.L. 400.236.
552.153 Order for payment; demand or notice not necessity.
Sec. 3. No demand or notice of making the order for such payment shall be necessary in the cases enumerated in section 1.
552.154 Attachment; arrest, custody of party.
Sec. 4. The attachment shall be executed by the sheriff of the county, or by any officer authorized to make such arrest, who shall arrest the party named therein and keep him in actual custody and bring him forthwith before the court issuing the attachment, and shall keep and detain him until the court shall make some further order.
552.155 Attachment; discharge by execution of bond, court order.
Sec. 5. The party arrested on the attachment shall be discharged therefrom upon executing and delivering to the clerk of the court issuing such attachment a bond, with 2 sufficient sureties in a penal sum to be fixed by the court, conditioned for immediate and faithful performance of the terms of the order for such payment, or the party may be discharged from arrest by such other order as the court may enter after a full hearing thereon.
552.156 Transition to centralized receipt and disbursement of support and fees.
Sec. 6. The department, the SDU, and each office of the friend of the court shall cooperate in the transition to the centralized receipt and disbursement of support and fees. An office of the friend of the court shall continue to receive and disburse support and fees through the transition, based on the schedule developed as required by section 6 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, M.C.L. 400.236, and modifications to that schedule as the department considers necessary.
552.391 Divorced woman; change of name.
Sec. 1. The circuit courts of this state, whenever a decree of divorce is granted, may, at the instance of the woman, whether complainant or defendant, decree to restore to her her birth name, or the surname she legally bore prior to her marriage to the husband in the divorce action, or allow her to adopt another surname if the change is not sought with any fraudulent or evil intent.
Sec. 1. The circuit court of this state may include in any decree of divorce or of separate maintenance entered in the circuit court appropriate provisions awarding to a party all or a portion of the property, either real or personal, owned by his or her spouse, as appears to the court to be equitable under all the circumstances of the case, if it appears from the evidence in the case that the party contributed to the acquisition, improvement, or accumulation of the property. The decree, upon becoming final, shall have the same force and effect as a quitclaim deed of the real estate, if any, or a bill of sale of the personal property, if any, given by the party's spouse to the party.
552.402 Certified copy of decree; recording or filing.
Sec. 2. A certified copy of any such decree may be recorded or filed in the office of the register of deeds of any county wherein any real estate or personal property described in such decree may be located.
552.451 Complaint by custodial parent for support.
Sec. 1. A married parent who has a minor child or children living with him or her and who is living separate and away from his or her spouse who is the noncustodial parent of the child or children, and who is refused financial assistance by the noncustodial parent to provide necessary shelter, food, care, and clothing for the child or children, if the spouse is of sufficient financial ability to provide that assistance, may complain to the circuit court for the county where either parent resides for an order for support for himself or herself and the minor child or children. Subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605b, the parent may also complain to the circuit court for support for a child or children after they reach 18 years of age. The proceedings shall be commenced by the filing of a complaint verified by the petitioner and by issuance of a summons that shall be personally served upon the noncustodial parent of the children and spouse of the petitioner. A complaint shall not be filed nor shall any summons issue if divorce or separate maintenance proceedings are then pending between the petitioner and his or her spouse.
552.451a Custodial parent or guardian proceeding against noncustodial parent for support of children
Sec. 1a. A custodial parent or guardian of a minor child or children or a child or children who have reached 18 years of age may proceed in the same manner, and under the same circumstances as provided in section 1, against the noncustodial parent for the support of the child or children. The order of support shall provide only for the support of the child or children, and the burden of proof shall be the same as provided in section 2. This section applies only to legitimate, legitimated, and lawfully adopted minor children and, subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605b, children after they reach 18 years of age.
552.451b Proceedings for support of custodial parent and children being supported by public assistance; burden of proof.
Sec. 1b. The director of social services or his or her designated representative or the director of the county department of social services of the county where the custodial parent or minor child or children or child or children who have reached 18 years of age reside or the director's designated representative may proceed in the same manner and under the same circumstances as provided in sections 1 and 1a against the noncustodial parent for the support of the custodial parent and minor child or children or child or children who have reached 18 years of age if the custodial parent and minor child or children or child or children who have reached 18 years of age or any of them are being supported, in whole or in part, by public assistance under the social welfare act, Act No. 280 of the Public Acts of 1939, as amended, being sections 400.1 to 400.121 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The burden of proof shall be the same as provided in section 2.
552.452 Hearing; order; contents; burden of proving lack of ability to provide support; amount; enforcement of order; custody and parenting time.
Sec. 2. (1) Upon the hearing of the complaint, in the manner of a motion, the court may enter an order as it determines proper for the support of the petitioner and the minor child or children of the parties as prescribed in section 5 of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605. The order shall provide that payment shall be made to the friend of the court or the state disbursement unit. If the parent complained of opposes the entry of the order upon the ground that he or she is without sufficient financial ability to provide necessary shelter, food, care, clothing, and other support for his or her spouse and child or children, the burden of proving this lack of ability is on the parent against whom the complaint is made. The order shall state in separate paragraphs the amount of support for the petitioner until the further order of the court, and the amount of support for each child until each child reaches 18 years of age or until the further order of the court. Subject to section 5b of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605b, the court may also order support for the child after the child reaches 18 years of age, or until the further order of the court.
(2) A support order entered under this section is enforceable as provided in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.601 to 552.650. If this act contains a specific provision regarding the contents or enforcement of a child support order that conflicts with a provision in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.601 to 552.650, this act controls in regard to that provision.
(3) If there is no dispute regarding a child's custody, the court shall include in an order for support issued under this act specific provisions governing custody of and parenting time for the child in accordance with the child custody act of 1970, 1970 PA 91, M.C.L. 722.21 to 722.31. If there is a dispute regarding custody of and parenting time for the child, the court shall include in an order for support issued under this act specific temporary provisions governing custody of and parenting time for the child. Pending a hearing on or other resolution of the dispute, the court may refer the matter to the office of the friend of the court for a written report and recommendation as provided in section 5 of the friend of the court act, 1982 PA 294, M.C.L. 552.505. In a dispute regarding custody of and parenting time for a child, the prosecuting attorney is not required to represent either party regarding the dispute.
552.454 Prosecuting attorney as attorney for petitioner; utilization of child support formula as guideline; transmittal of payments to family independence agency.
Sec. 4. (1) If the county family independence agency where the custodial parent or guardian of the minor child or children or the child or children who have reached 18 years of age resides determines the custodial parent, the minor child or children, the child or children who have reached 18 years of age, or any of them to be eligible for public or medical assistance, or if a complaint is being filed under section 1b, the prosecuting attorney shall act as the attorney for the petitioner.
(2) The prosecuting attorney shall utilize the child support formula developed under section 19 of the friend of the court act, 1982 PA 294, M.C.L. 552.519, as a guideline in petitioning for child support. Upon certification by the family independence agency that the custodial parent and minor child or children or child or children who have reached 18 years of age are receiving public assistance, a payment received by the friend of the court or the state disbursement unit for the support of the custodial parent and minor child or children or child or children who have reached 18 years of age shall be transmitted to the family independence agency.
552.455 Modification of order upon application and notice; information required by friend of the court office
Sec. 5. An order entered under section 2 may be modified by the court upon proper application to the court and due notice to the opposite party. If a judgment of divorce or of separate maintenance is entered by a court having personal jurisdiction over the parties, an order entered under this act is null and void upon the effective date of the judgment.
552.456 Warrant for criminal nonsupport; testimony.
Sec. 6. A warrant for criminal nonsupport shall not issue or be enforced against any parent who is a party to the proceedings provided for in this act if the parent complies with an order entered by a court as provided in this act. The parent's testimony, if any, in proceedings under this act is not admissible in such criminal proceedings.
552.457 Reimbursement of county for cost of enforcing support or parenting time orders; service fee; computation, payment, and disposition; failure or refusal to pay service fee; contempt.
Sec. 7. (1) To reimburse the county for the cost of enforcing support or parenting time orders under this act, the court shall order the payment of a service fee of $2.00 per month, payable semiannually on each January 2 and July 2, to the friend of the court or state disbursement unit. The service fee shall be paid by the person ordered to pay the support money. The service fee shall be computed from the beginning date of the support order and shall continue while the support order is operative. The service fee shall be paid 6 months in advance on each due date, except for the first payment which shall be paid at the same time the support order is filed, and covers the period of time from that month until the next calendar due date. The friend of the court may deduct the service fee from support money paid after the due date of the service fee. An order that provides for the payment of support that requires collection by the friend of the court under this act or by the SDU shall provide for the payment of the service fee. Upon its own motion, a court may amend such an order or judgment to provide for the payment of the service fee, in the amount provided by this subsection, upon notice to the person ordered to pay the support money. The service fees shall be turned over to the county treasurer and credited to the general fund of the county.
552.458 Fees and costs.
Sec. 8. No filing, order or stenographer's fees shall be required for an action or proceedings under this act, but the court may assess any such costs, service costs and attorney fees against the defendant in the order of support or any modification thereof.
552.458a Transition to centralized receipt and disbursement of support and fees.
Sec. 8a. The department, the SDU, and each office of the friend of the court shall cooperate in the transition to the centralized receipt and disbursement of support and fees. An office of the friend of the court shall continue to receive and disburse support and fees through the transition, based on the schedule developed as required by section 7 of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, M.C.L. 400.237, and modifications to that schedule as the department considers necessary.
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "support and parenting time enforcement act".
(iv) An account covered by the employee retirement income security act of 1974, Public Law 93-406, 88 Stat. 829.
(c) "Address" means the primary address shown on the records of a financial institution used by the financial institution to contact the account holder.
(f) "Department" means the family independence agency.
(g) "Domestic relations matter" means a circuit court proceeding as to child custody or parenting time, or child or spousal support, that arises out of litigation under a statute of this state, including, but not limited to, the following:
(iii) Child custody act of 1970, 1970 PA 91, MCL 722.21 to 722.31.
(vi) Revised uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act, 1952 PA 8, MCL 780.151 to 780.183.
(vii) Uniform interstate family support act, 1996 PA 310, MCL 552.1101 to 552.1901.
(m) "Friend of the court case" means that term as defined in section 2 of the friend of the court act, MCL 552.502. The term "friend of the court case", when used in a provision of this act, is not effective until on and after December 1, 2002.
(i) Public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211.
(p) "Medical assistance" means medical assistance as established under title XIX of the social security act, chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 to 1396r-6 and 1396r-8 to 1396v.
(x) "Plan administrator" means that term as used in relation to a group health plan under section 609 of title I of the employee retirement income security act of 1974, Public Law 93-406, 29 U.S.C. § 1169, if the health care coverage plan of the individual who is responsible for providing a child with health care coverage is subject to that act.
(cc) "Source of income" means an employer or successor employer or another individual or entity that owes or will owe income to the payer.
(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 incurred by or for the mother in connection with her confinement, for other expenses in connection with the pregnancy of the mother, or for the repayment of genetic testing expenses.
(hh) "Title IV-D" means part D of title IV of the social security act, chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 651 to 655, 656 to 657, 658a to 660, and 663 to 669b.
(ii) "Title IV-D agency" means the agency in this state performing the functions under title IV-D and includes a person performing those functions under contract including an office of the friend of the court or a prosecuting attorney.
(vii) Community service programs.
(xii) The provisions of child care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program.
552.603 Support order; enforcement.
Sec. 3. (1) A support order issued by a court of this state shall be enforced as provided in this act.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a support order that is part of a judgment or is an order in a domestic relations matter is a judgment on and after the date the support amount is due as prescribed in section 5c, with the full force, effect, and attributes of a judgment of this state, and is not, on and after the date it is due, subject to retroactive modification. Retroactive modification of a support payment due under a support order is permissible with respect to a period during which there is pending a petition for modification, but only from the date that notice of the petition was given to the payer or recipient of support.
(4) The office of the friend of the court shall make available to a payer or payee the forms and instructions described in section 5 of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.505.
(a) Substantially the following statement: "Except as otherwise provided in section 3 of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.603, a support order that is part of a judgment or that is an order in a domestic relations matter as defined in section 2 of the friend of the court act, 1982 PA 294, M.C.L. 552.502, is a judgment on and after the date each support payment is due, with the full force, effect, and attributes of a judgment of this state, and is not, on and after the date it is due, subject to retroactive modification. A surcharge will be added to support amounts that are past due as provided in section 3a of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.603a.".
(b) Notice informing the payer of the imposition of liens by operation of law and that the payer's real and personal property can be encumbered or seized if an arrearage accrues in an amount greater than the amount of periodic support payments payable under the payer's support order for the time period specified in the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.601 to 552.650.
(7) Each support order that is an order in a friend of the court case shall include all of the following:
(a) A requirement that, within 21 days after the payer or payee changes his or her residential or mailing address, that individual report the new address and his or her telephone number in writing to the friend of the court.
(b) A requirement that both the payer and payee notify the office of the friend of the court if he or she holds an occupational license and if he or she holds a driver's license.
(c) The name, address, and telephone number of the payer's and payee's current sources of income.
(d) A requirement that both the payer and payee inform the office of the friend of the court of his or her social security number and driver's license number. The requirement of this subdivision to provide a social security number with the information does not apply to a payer or payee who demonstrates he or she is exempt under law from obtaining a social security number or to a payer or payee who for religious convictions is exempt under law from disclosure of his or her social security number under these circumstances. The court shall inform the payer and payee of this possible exemption.
(e) Notice that an order for dependent health care coverage takes effect immediately and will be sent to the parent's current and subsequent employers and insurers if appropriate. The notice shall inform the parent that he or she may contest the action by requesting a review or hearing concerning availability of health care coverage at a reasonable cost.
(8) A support order shall not accrue interest.
552.603a Support payment; surcharge; computation; assessment; collection; enforcement.
(1) For a friend of the court case, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, a surcharge shall be added to support payments that are past due as of those dates. The surcharge shall be calculated at 6-month intervals at an annual rate of interest equal to 1% plus the average interest rate paid at auctions of 5-year United States treasury notes during the 6 months immediately preceding July 1 and January 1, as certified by the state treasurer. The amount of the surcharge shall not compound. The amount shown as due and owing on the records of the friend of the court as of January 1 and July 1 of each year shall be reduced by an amount equal to 1 month's support for purposes of assessing the surcharge. A surcharge under this subsection shall not be added to support ordered under the paternity act, 1956 PA 205, MCL 722.711 to 722.730, for the time period to the date of the support order.
(2) A surcharge as computed in subsection (1) shall be assessed on a semiannual cycle on January 1 and July 1 of each year except as otherwise provided under subsection (3).
(3) A surcharge shall not be assessed for the current semiannual cycle for any of the following:
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2005, in cases in which the friend of the court is collecting on a current child support obligation, the payer has paid 90% or more of the most recent semiannual obligation during the semiannual cycle.
(b) For a support order entered after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection, for any period of time a support order did not exist when support is later ordered for that period.
(c) The surcharge is waived or abated under a court order under section 3d.
(4) The surcharge shall be collected and enforced by any means authorized under this act, the friend of the court act, or another appropriate federal or state law for the enforcement and collection of child support and paid through the state disbursement unit.
Sec. 3b. If an individual who is required by the court to report his or her income to the court or the office of the friend of the court knowingly and intentionally fails to report, refuses to report, or knowingly misrepresents that income, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the court may retroactively correct the amount of support.
Sec.3d.
Sec. 4. (1) After July 1, 1983, each support order entered or modified by the circuit court shall provide for an order of income withholding.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court shall order child support in an amount determined by application of the child support formula developed by the state friend of the court bureau as required in section 19 of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.519. The court may enter an order that deviates from the formula if the court determines from the facts of the case that application of the child support formula would be unjust or inappropriate and sets forth in writing or on the record all of the following:
(3) A provision contained in a judgment or an order entered before October 10, 1990 that provides for the support of a child after the child reaches 18 years of age, without an agreement of the parties as described in subsection (4), is valid and enforceable to the extent the provision provides support for the child for the time the child is regularly attending high school on a full-time basis with a reasonable expectation of completing sufficient credits to graduate from high school while residing on a full-time basis with the recipient of support or at an institution, but in no case after the child reaches 19 years and 6 months of age. This subsection does not require payment of support for a child after the child reaches 18 years of age for any period between November 8, 1989 and October 10, 1990, or reimbursement of support paid between November 8, 1989 and October 10, 1990, in those judicial circuits that did not enforce support for a child after the child reached 18 years of age during the period between November 8, 1989 and October 10, 1990.
(4) A provision contained in a judgment or an order entered under this act before, on, or after the effective date of this section that provides for the support of a child after the child reaches 18 years of age is valid and enforceable if 1 or more of the following apply:
552.605c Support order; monthly amounts; conversion; proration; applicability of excess payment against arrearage.
Sec. 5c. (1) All support orders shall be stated in monthly amounts payable on the first of each month in advance. A support obligation not paid by the last day of the month in which it accrues is past due. If a support order does not state the amount of support as a monthly amount, the support amount stated in the order shall be converted to a monthly amount using the formula established by the state court administrative office.
(2) If payments under a support order are being made in the amount required, through income withholding, pursuant to an installment payment order, or otherwise, and there are no preexisting arrearages, the friend of the court shall not consider the payer as having an arrearage if a periodic temporary arrearage is created based upon the conversion of the monthly support order to an income withholding order or other payment schedule and which results from a divergence between the cycle of payments under the income withholding or payment schedule and the cycle of charges.
(3) If a support order takes effect on other than the first day of a month, the monthly amount is prorated based on the daily amount for that month. A monthly support order amount shall be prorated for the last month in which the order is in effect.
Sec. 5d. (1) On and after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, each support order the court enters or modifies shall include substantially the following provisions:
(a) If a child for whom support is payable under the order is under the state's jurisdiction and is placed in foster care, support payable under the order is assigned to the department.
(b) For a friend of the court case, substantially the following statements:
(i) "The office of the friend of the court may consider the person legally responsible for the actual care, support, and maintenance of a child for whom support is ordered as the recipient of support for the child and may redirect support paid for that child to that recipient of support, subject to the procedures prescribed in section 5d of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605d.".
(ii) "If the payer resides full-time with a child for whom support is payable under this order, support for that child abates in accordance with policies established by the state friend of the court bureau and subject to the procedures prescribed in section 5d of the support and parenting time enforcement act, 1982 PA 295, M.C.L. 552.605d.".
(2) If it is a friend of the court case, a support order that was entered before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section shall be considered to include, by operation of law, the provisions stated in subsection (1).
(3) If a child for whom support is payable under the order is under the state's jurisdiction and is placed in foster care, support payable under the order is assigned to the department. An assignment of support to the department as required by this subsection has priority over a redirection of support authorized by this section.
(5) A party to a support order may object to redirection or abatement of support under this section. Support shall not be redirected or abated under this section until 21 days after the office of the friend of the court notifies each party of the proposed action, advising the party of the right to object. If a party objects within 21 days after the notification, support shall not be redirected or abated under this section. After an objection, the office of the friend of the court shall review the support order under section 17 of the friend of the court act, 1982 PA 294, M.C.L. 552.517, or shall notify each party that the party may file a motion to modify support.
(1) A payer who has an arrearage under a support order may seek relief from the arrearage by complying with the amnesty under section 3b of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.233b, or by filing a motion with the circuit court for a payment plan to pay arrearages and to discharge or abate arrearages. Except as provided in subsection (7)(d), if the payer files a motion for a payment plan, the court shall approve the plan after notice and a hearing if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the plan is in the best interest of the parties and children and that either of the following applies:
(iii) The payment plan will pay a reasonable portion of the arrearage over a reasonable period of time in accordance with the payer's current ability to pay. A payment plan that does not pay the entire arrearage shall:
(A) As to a payer who has an income at or below the poverty level, require payments for at least 24 months.
(B) As to a payer who has an income in excess of the poverty level, require payments for at least 24 months plus 1 additional month for each $1,000.00 above the poverty level that the payer earns.
(2) When the payer has completed the plan, the payer shall provide notice to interested parties and obtain a hearing before the court. If, after notice and hearing, the court finds that the payer has completed the payment plan, the court shall enter an order discharging the remaining arrearage, if any. If the court finds that the payer has substantially completed the payment plan, the court may enter an order granting relief appropriate to the circumstances of the case.
(5) A court shall require conditions in the payment plan in addition to the payment of support that the court determines are in the best interests of a child, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(b) Appoint an examiner who shall review the payer's assets and the plan and make a recommendation concerning the plan or propose an alternative plan to the court. The examiner shall be paid by the payer for services provided under terms and conditions the court establishes separate from any payments made through the friend of the court or state disbursement unit.
(c) Appoint a receiver who shall review the payer's assets and the plan and make a recommendation concerning the plan or propose an alternative plan to the court. The receiver shall have the powers of a receiver under all applicable laws and may, at the court's discretion, use the payer's assets to complete the plan or otherwise monitor the payer's progress in completing the plan. The receiver shall be paid by the payer for services provided under terms and conditions the court establishes separately from any payments made through the friend of the court or state disbursement unit.
(9) An arrearage subject to a plan under subsection (1) shall continue to be enforced under this act, the office of child support act, and the friend of the court act, when federal or state law requires the enforcement action. When federal or state law does not require the enforcement action, an arrearage subject to a plan under subsection (1) may continue to be enforced as allowed under this act, the office of child support act, and the friend of the court act, except that when the payer is complying with the plan, a referee, judge, or person conducting an administrative review or hearing as allowed under the acts shall not allow enforcement to continue when the statute permits the exercise of discretion in using the enforcement and the payer is complying with the plan.
(11) A title IV-D agency shall comply with the amnesty program established under section 3b of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.233b. If prosecution has been initiated under section 161, 165, or 167 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.161, 750.165, and 750.167, before the payer seeks participation in the child support amnesty program or a payment plan under this section, the individual is not eligible to participate in the child support amnesty program or a payment plan under this section.
(e) That the payer may request a hearing under subsection (4) in writing within 21 days after the date of the notice to contest the withholding, but only on the grounds that the withholding is not proper because of a mistake of fact concerning the amount of current or overdue support or the identity of the payer, and if the notice includes an administrative adjustment of arrears, that the administrative adjustment will cause an unjust or inappropriate result.
(f) That if the hearing is held before a referee, the payer has a right to a de novo hearing before a circuit court judge. The place where a request for hearing under subsection (4) shall be filed.
(g) That if the payer believes that the amount of support should be modified due to a change in circumstances, the payer may file a petition with the court for modification of the support order.
(2) A copy of the notice provided for in subsection (1) shall be sent by ordinary mail to each recipient of support.
(3) A payer to whom notice is sent under subsection (1), within 21 days after the date on which the notice was sent, may request a hearing by filing a request for hearing as provided in the notice and serving a copy on the other party. A hearing concerning implementation of income withholding that was not previously effective may be requested only on the grounds that the withholding is not proper because of a mistake of fact concerning the amount of current or overdue support or the identity of the payer.
(4) If a payer requests a hearing under subsection (3), the notice and request shall be filed with the court clerk as a motion contesting the proposed action and a referee or circuit judge shall hold a hearing within 14 days after the date of the request. If at the hearing the payer establishes that the withholding is not proper because of a mistake of fact concerning the amount of current or overdue support or the identity of the payer, or that periodic implementation of an administrative adjustment of the amount of the periodic payment of arrears to be withheld will cause an unjust or inappropriate result, the income withholding shall be modified or rescinded according to the guidelines established under section 19 of the friend of the court act, MCL 552.519.
(5) If the hearing provided under subsection (4) is held before a referee, either party may request a de novo hearing as provided in section 7 of the friend of the court act, MCL 552.507.
(6) If a petition for modification of the support order is filed by or on behalf of a payer and is pending at the date scheduled for a hearing under subsection (4), the court may consolidate the hearing under subsection (4) and a hearing on the petition for modification.
(7) All proceedings under this section shall be completed within 45 days after the date that notice was sent under subsection (1), unless otherwise permitted by the court upon a showing of good cause.
(8) The friend of the court office may review the objection administratively before a hearing is held before a referee or judge. If the friend of the court office reviews the objection administratively, either party may object and a hearing shall be held before a referee or judge.
Sec. 8. The total amount of income withheld under this act under all orders to withhold income for current support, past due support, fees, and health care coverage premiums effective against a payer shall not exceed the maximum amount permitted under section 303(b) of title III of the consumer credit protection act, Public Law 90-321, 15 U.S.C. § 1673.
552.609 Order of income withholding; service; directives; notice.
Sec. 9. A notice of income withholding entered under this act shall be served on sources of income as provided in section 11. The notice shall direct sources of income to withhold from income due the payer an amount sufficient to meet the payments ordered for support and service fees, and to defray arrearages in payments and service fees due at the time the order of income withholding takes effect. The notice shall also direct that the amount withheld for support, fees, and health care coverage premiums shall not exceed the amount allowed under section 303(b) of title III of the consumer credit protection act, Public Law 90-321, 15 U.S.C. § 1673. The notice shall contain a statement of the requirements of sections 11, 11a, 12, 13, 14, and 23. The notice shall also direct that income withheld under the notice for support and fees shall be paid to the office of the friend of the court or to the state disbursement unit, as appropriate, within 3 days after the date of the withholding.
Sec. 11. An order of income withholding entered under this act is binding upon a source of income 7 days after service upon that source of income of a notice of the order of income withholding by ordinary mail or by electronic means as agreed by the source of income and the office of the friend of the court. The order of income withholding remains in effect until further order of the court. An order of income withholding has priority over all other legal process under state law against the same income.
Sec. 12. Compliance by the source of income with a notice of income withholding operates as a discharge of the source's liability to the payer as to that portion of the payer's income affected.
Sec. 19. (1) If the court awards to the payer sole custody of a child for whom the payer has been previously ordered to pay support and a previously accumulated arrearage under the support order for that child does not exist, the court shall modify any existing support order to exclude support ordered to be paid by that payer for that particular child. If an existing support order does not provide for support to any other child of whom the payer does not have custody, for support to a former spouse, or for payments of confinement or pregnancy expenses, the court shall terminate the order of income withholding as soon as any previously accumulated arrearage has been paid.
(4) If a written agreement is entered into under subsection (2)(d), the order of income withholding shall take effect when an arrearage in support payments as agreed to under the written agreement reaches the arrearage amount that would require the initiation of 1 or more support enforcement measures if the case were a friend of the court case, as provided in section 11 of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.511.
(5) The court may suspend or terminate an order of income withholding if the custodial parent moves out of the state without court authorization.
552.623 Using order of income withholding as basis for refusing to employ, discharging, disciplining, or penalizing payer prohibited; violation as misdemeanor; penalty; restitution; use of occupational, driver's, or recreational or sporting license as basis; exception.
Sec. 23. (1) A source of income shall not use a notice of income withholding as a basis for refusing to employ, discharging, taking disciplinary action against, or imposing a penalty against a payer. A source of income who refuses to employ, discharges, disciplines, or penalizes a payer in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, and shall be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved payer, including reinstatement and back pay.
Sec. 24. For a friend of the court case, if a support arrearage has accrued, the office of the friend of the court may request the office of child support to initiate offset proceedings against the delinquent payer's state tax refunds and federal income tax refunds as provided in section 3a of the office of child support act, 1971 PA 174, M.C.L. 400.233a.
Sec. 24a. For a friend of the court case, if a support arrearage has accrued and there is reason to believe the payer transferred title or ownership of real or personal property without fair consideration, the title IV-D agency shall initiate proceedings to have the transfer set aside as provided in the uniform fraudulent transfer act, 1998 PA 434, M.C.L. 566.31 to 566.43, or obtain a settlement in the form of full payment of the arrearage or in periodic repayments as is possible in the best interest of the recipient of support.
Sec. 25. In addition to providing remedies or imposing penalties otherwise available under this act or other law for the enforcement of support orders, the court, upon petition by the office of the friend of the court or recipient of support and after notice to the payer and an opportunity for a hearing, may require a payer to provide sufficient bond, security, or other guarantee to secure the payment of support that is past due, or due in the future, or both. Upon default in the payment of an amount secured by the bond, the court, after notice to the payer and sureties, if any, and an opportunity for a hearing, may render judgment against the payer and sureties for the amount of unpaid support. Upon default in the payment of the amount awarded in the judgment, the court may order execution of the judgment; appoint a receiver of the real and personal property of the payer and order the property and its income to be applied to the amount of the judgment; or take any other appropriate action to enforce the judgment.
552.625a Lien; creation; effect; full faith and credit to liens created in other states; priority; notice.
Sec. 25a. (1) The amount of past due support that accrues under a judgment as provided in section 3 or under the law of another state constitutes a lien in favor of the recipient of support against the real and personal property of a payer, other than financial assets pledged to a financial institution as collateral or financial assets to which a financial institution has a prior right of setoff or other lien. The lien is effective at the time that the support is due and unpaid and shall continue until the amount of past due support is paid in full or the lien is terminated by the IV-D agency.
(3) A lien created under subsection (1) is subordinate to a prior perfected lien. All liens created under subsection (1) and described in subsection (2) have equal priority.
(4) Before a lien is perfected or levied under this act, the title IV-D agency shall send a notice to the payer subject to the support order informing the payer of the imposition of liens by operation of law and that the payer's real and personal property can be encumbered or seized if an arrearage accrues in an amount that exceeds the amount of periodic support payments payable under the payer's support order for the time period specified in this act.
(5) The title IV-D agency or another person required to provide notice under this section or sections 25b to 25i shall provide notice by paper, unless the person to be notified agrees to notice by other means. The title IV-D agency or other person providing notice under this section or sections 25b to 25i shall complete and preserve proof of service of the notice in a form substantially conforming to the requirements for proof of service under the Michigan court rules.
Sec. 25b. (1) A remedy provided by this section is cumulative and does not affect the availability of another remedy under this act or other law.
(2) Except for a financial asset to which section 25c applies, the title IV-D agency may perfect a lien created under section 25a upon the real or personal property of the payer when an arrearage has accrued in an amount that exceeds 2 times the monthly amount of periodic support payments payable under the payer's support order.
(3) If the arrearage under subsection (2) is reached and the title IV-D agency has determined that the delinquent payer holds real or personal property, other than a financial asset to which section 25c applies, the title IV-D agency may perfect the lien. The title IV-D agency shall perfect a lien on property to which this section applies in the same manner in which another lien on property of the same type is perfected.
(6) If, at the review, the payer establishes that the lien is not proper because of a mistake of fact, the title IV-D agency shall terminate the lien and, within 7 days, notify the applicable entity that the lien is terminated.
552.625c Remedy as cumulative; payer's financial assets held by financial institution; notice of lien and levy; form; notice of withdrawal; release of assets.
Sec. 25c. (1) A remedy provided by this section is cumulative and does not affect the availability of another remedy under this act or other law.
(2) If a payer's financial assets held by a financial institution are subject to a lien under section 25a and an arrearage has accrued in an amount that exceeds 2 times the monthly amount of periodic support payments payable under the payer's support order, the title IV-D agency may levy against the payer's financial assets held by a financial institution. To levy against a payer's financial assets, the title IV-D agency shall serve the financial institution holding the financial assets with a notice of the lien and levy, directing the financial institution to freeze the payer's financial assets held by the financial institution.
(3) The office of child support, in consultation with the state court administrative office, shall create the form that is required for the notice to a financial institution under subsection (2). The form shall include, or provide for inclusion of, at least all of the following:
(b) Information that enables the financial institution to link the payer with his or her financial assets and to notify the payer.
(d) Statements setting forth the rights and responsibilities of the financial institution and payer.
(4) A title IV-D agency may withdraw a levy under this section at any time before the circuit court considers or hears the matter in an action filed under section 25f. The title IV-D agency shall give notice of the withdrawal to the payer and financial institution. Upon receiving notice of a withdrawal of a levy, the financial institution shall release the payer's financial assets by the close of business on 1 of the following days:
552.625d Obligation or liability of financial institutions; limitations.
Sec. 25d. (1) A financial institution incurs no-obligation or liability to a depositor, account holder, or other person arising from the furnishing of information under sections 25c to 25i or from the failure to disclose to a depositor, account holder, or other person that the person's name as a person with an interest in the financial assets was included in the information provided.
(2) A financial institution incurs no-obligation or liability to the title IV-D agency or another person for an error or omission made in good faith compliance with sections 25c to 25i.
(3) A financial institution incurs no-obligation or liability for blocking, freezing, placing a hold upon, forwarding, or otherwise dealing with a person's financial assets in response to a lien or levy imposed or information provided under sections 25c to 25i.
(4) A financial institution is not obligated to block, freeze, place a hold upon, forward, or otherwise deal with a person's financial assets until served with the notice of levy in accordance with section 25c. A financial institution that forwards financial assets to the title IV-D agency in response to a levy under section 25c is discharged from any obligation or liability to the depositor, account holder, or other person with an interest in the financial assets that are forwarded to the title IV-D agency.
Sec. 25e. (1) When a financial institution receives a notice of levy on a payer's financial assets held by the financial institution under section 25c, the financial institution shall freeze those financial assets. If the payer's financial assets held by a financial institution exceed the levy amount, the financial institution shall freeze those financial assets up to the levy amount. A financial institution shall execute the freeze of a payer's financial assets under this section by the close of business on 1 of the following days:
(2) After complying with subsection (1), a financial institution shall give notice of that compliance to the title IV-D agency, the payer, and each other person with an interest in the financial assets as shown in the financial institution's records. A financial institution's notice to a payer under this subsection shall include a copy of the title IV-D agency notice to the financial institution.
Sec. 25f. (1) A payer whose financial assets are levied on under section 25c or a person with an interest in those assets may challenge the levy by submitting a written challenge with the title IV-D agency at the location specified in the title IV-D agency notice. A payer or other person with an interest must submit a written challenge under this section within 21 days after the financial institution sends the payer a copy of the title IV-D agency notice as required by section 25e. A challenge to a levy under section 25c is governed by this act and is not subject to chapter 4 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, M.C.L. 24.271 to 24.287. A payer or other person with an interest who submits a challenge under this subsection may withdraw the challenge at any time by giving notice of the withdrawal to the title IV-D agency.
(2) If the title IV-D agency receives a written challenge from a payer or other person with an interest within the time limit required by subsection (1), the title IV-D agency shall notify the financial institution about the challenge and, within 7 days, shall review the case with the challenger. The title IV-D agency shall consider only a mistake in the payer's identity or in the amount of the payer's past due support, or another mistake of fact, as cause to release or modify the levy. If the title IV-D agency determines that a mistake of fact occurred, the title IV-D agency shall do 1 of the following:
(a) If the mistake is the payer's identity or that the payer does not owe past due support in an amount equal to or greater than 2 times the payer's monthly support amount under a support order, notify the financial institution and the payer that the levy is released.
(4) If the payer or other person with an interest disagrees with the title IV-D agency review determination under this section, the payer or other person with an interest may challenge the levy under section 25c by filing an action in the circuit court that issued a support order that is an underlying basis for the levy. A payer or other person with an interest must file an action under this subsection within 21 days after the title IV-D agency sends notice of its review determination and shall give the title IV-D agency notice of the action.
(5) If an action is not filed in the circuit court within the time limit required by subsection (4), the title IV-D agency shall notify the financial institution, directing the financial institution to act in accordance with the title IV-D agency review determination under this section. If an action is filed in the circuit court within the time limit prescribed in subsection (4), the title IV-D agency shall notify the financial institution, directing the financial institution to act in accordance with the court decision.
Sec. 26. (1) For a friend of the court case, within 2 business days after a new hire report is entered into the state directory of new hires, as created under section 453A of title IV-D, 42 U.S.C. § 653a, or a payer's or parent's employer is otherwise identified, the office shall, when appropriate, provide the new employer with a notice of income withholding or a notice of the order for dependent health care coverage, or both, on behalf of a payer who is subject to income withholding or a parent or payer who is required to provide dependent health care coverage.
552.628 Order to suspend payer's occupational, driver's, or recreational or sporting license; petition by office of friend of the court; circumstances; notice to payer.
Sec. 28. (1) For a friend of the court case, the office of the friend of the court may petition the court for an order to suspend a payer's occupational license, driver's license, or recreational or sporting license, or any combination of the licenses, if all of the following circumstances are true:
(b) The payer holds an occupational license, driver's license, or recreational or sporting license or the payer's occupation requires an occupational license.
(c) An order of income withholding is not applicable or has been unsuccessful in assuring regular payments on the support obligation and regular payments on the arrearage.
(2) An office of the friend of the court shall not file a petition as authorized under subsection (1) unless the office sends the payer a notice that includes all of the following information:
(b) That the payer's occupational license, driver's license, or recreational or sporting license, or any combination of the licenses, may be subject to an order of suspension.
(c) That the suspension order will be entered and sent to the licensing agency unless the payer responds by paying the arrearage or requesting a hearing within 21 days after the date of mailing the notice.
(d) That, at the hearing, the payer may do either of the following:
(ii) Suggest to the court a schedule for the payment of the arrearage.
552.629 Suspension hearing; consolidation with modification hearing; order to pay arrearage in installments; suspension order.
Sec. 29. (1) Within 21 days after the date on which the notice described in section 28 is mailed to a payer, the payer may request a hearing on the proposed suspension. If the payer requests a hearing within that time, entry of the suspension order shall be delayed pending the outcome of the hearing.
(3) If the court determines that the payer has accrued an arrearage on his or her support order and that the payer has, or could by the exercise of due diligence have, the capacity to pay all or some portion of the amount due, the court shall order the payment of the arrearage in 1 or more scheduled installments of a sum certain.
(4) After 21 days after the date on which the notice described in section 28 is sent, the court may order the suspension of the payer's occupational license, driver's license, or recreational or sporting license, or any combination of the licenses included in the notice under section 28, under either of the following circumstances:
(b) The payer fails to comply with an arrearage payment schedule ordered under this section.
552.630 Suspension of occupational, driver's, or recreational or sporting license by regulatory agency or secretary of state; sending copy of order; schedule for payment of arrearage; rescission of suspension order.
Sec. 30. (1) If the court orders a suspension of an occupational license, driver's license, or recreational or sporting license, or any combination of the licenses, under section 29, 33, 35, or 45, the order shall indicate that the licensing agency shall suspend the license within 7 business days after receipt of the suspension order. The office of the friend of the court shall send a copy of the suspension order to the licensing agency. If the payer is the subject of a suspension order under section 29 and has failed to respond in any manner to the notice given under section 28, the office of the friend of the court shall not send the suspension order to the licensing agency until at least 14 days after the date the office first attempts service of a copy of the order on the payer by personal service or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with delivery restricted to the payer.
(2) After entry of a suspension order under section 29, a payer may agree to and the court may order a schedule for the payment of the arrearage. If the court orders a schedule for payment of the arrearage, the court shall enter an order rescinding the suspension order that is effective as provided in section 4 of the regulated occupation support enforcement act, 1996 PA 236, M.C.L. 338.3434, section 321c of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, M.C.L. 257.321c, or section 43559 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, M.C.L. 324.43559. If a suspension order has been sent, within 7 business days after entry of the order rescinding the suspension order, the office of the friend of the court shall send a copy of the order rescinding the suspension order to the licensing agency.
552.631 Failure or refusal to obey and perform support order; civil contempt proceeding; failure to appear; bench warrant; bond or cash deposit; custody; payment and disposition of costs.
(c) Apply an enforcement remedy authorized under this act or the friend of the court act for the nonpayment of support.
(2) In a bench warrant issued under this section, the court shall decree that the payer is subject to arrest if apprehended or detained anywhere in this state and shall require that, upon arrest, unless the payer deposits a cash performance bond in the manner required by section 32, the payer shall remain in custody until the time of the hearing. The court shall specify in the bench warrant the cash performance bond amount. The court shall set the cash performance bond at not less than $500.00 or 25% of the arrearage, whichever is greater. At its own discretion, the court may set the cash performance bond at an amount up to 100% of the arrearage and add to the amount of the required deposit the amount of the costs the court may require under subsection (3). If a payer is arrested on a felony warrant issued for a violation of section 165 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.165, unless the payer deposits a cash performance bond in the manner required by section 32, the court shall require that, upon arrest, the payer remain in custody until the time of the preliminary examination. Upon notification that a payer who has an outstanding bench warrant under this section has been arrested or arraigned on a felony warrant for a violation of section 165 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.165, the court may order that the bench warrant be recalled.
(3) If the court issues a bench warrant under this section, except for good cause shown on the record, the court shall order the payer to pay the costs related to the hearing, issuance of the warrant, arrest, and further hearings. Those costs and costs ordered for failure to appear under section 32 or 44 shall be transmitted to the county treasurer for distribution as required in section 2530 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2530.
552.632 Payer arrested under bench warrant; cash performance bond; hearing on order to show cause; form of bond receipt; failure to appear; transmission and deposit of bond; setting aside contempt finding.
Sec. 32. (1) If a bench warrant was issued and the payer is arrested in the county that issued the warrant or another county in this state, the payer shall remain in custody until there is a hearing or the payer posts an adequate cash performance bond. If the payer cannot post the cash performance bond in the amount stated in the bench warrant, the payer is entitled to a hearing within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. The issues to be considered at a hearing required under this subsection are limited to the payer's answer to the order to show cause and, if the payer was found in contempt, to further proceedings related to the payer's contempt. If the hearing is not held as provided in this subsection, the court shall review, based on criteria prescribed in the Michigan court rules, the amount of the cash performance bond to determine an amount that will ensure the payer's appearance and shall set a date for a hearing to be held under subsection (4) within the time limit prescribed in the Michigan court rules.
Received from ___ (referred to in this receipt as "the payer") to assure the performance of the payer's support obligation. The payer shall appear for hearing at a date noticed to the payer by the court at the following address:
______________________________________________________ (address furnished by the payer for receipt of notice)
________________________________ Officer: _______________________ Dept.: _________________________".
552.633 Finding payer in contempt; presumption; proof of currently available resources; orders; noncompliance with arrearage payment schedule; suspension of license.
(1) The court may find a payer in contempt if the court finds that the payer is in arrears and if the court is satisfied that the payer has the capacity to pay out of currently available resources all or some portion of the amount due under the support order. In the absence of proofs to the contrary introduced by the payer, the court shall presume that the payer has currently available resources equal to 4 weeks of payments under the support order. The court shall not find that the payer has currently available resources of more than 4 weeks of payments without proof of those resources by the office of the friend of the court or the recipient of support. Upon finding a payer in contempt of court under this section, the court may immediately enter an order doing 1 or more of the following:
(a) Committing the payer to the county jail.
(b) Committing the payer to the county jail with the privilege of leaving the jail during the hours the court determines, and under the supervision the court considers, necessary for the purpose of allowing the payer to go to and return from his or her place of employment.
(c) Committing the payer to a penal or correctional facility in this state that is not operated by the state department of corrections.
(d) If the payer holds an occupational license, driver's license, or recreational or sporting license, conditioning a suspension of the payer's license, or any combination of the licenses, upon noncompliance with an order for payment of the arrearage in 1 or more scheduled installments of a sum certain. A court shall not order the sanction authorized by this subdivision unless the court finds that the payer has accrued an arrearage of support payments in an amount greater than the amount of periodic support payments payable for 2 months under the payer's support order.
(e) Ordering the payer to participate in a work activity. This subdivision does not alter the court's authority to include provisions in an order issued under this section concerning a payer's employment or his or her seeking of employment as that authority exists on August 10, 1998.
(f) If available within the court's jurisdiction, order the payer to participate in a community corrections program established as provided in the community corrections act, 1988 PA 511, MCL 791.401 to 791.414.
(g) Except as provided by federal law and regulations, ordering the parent to pay a fine of not more than $100.00. A fine ordered under this subdivision shall be deposited in the friend of the court fund created in section 2530 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2530.
552.635 Finding payer in contempt; orders; release from county jail of unemployed payer who finds employment; noncompliance with arrearage payment schedule; suspension of license.
(1) The court may find a payer in contempt if the court finds that the payer is in arrears and 1 of the following:
(a) Commit the payer to the county jail with the privilege of leaving the jail during the hours the court determines, and under the supervision the court considers, necessary for the purpose of allowing the payer to participate in a work activity.
Sec. 37. (1) An order of commitment under section 33 or 35 shall be entered only if other remedies appear unlikely to correct the payer's failure or refusal to pay support.
552.639 Committing payer to county jail without privilege; violating conditions of court; failure to return to place of confinement as escape from custody; misdemeanor; penalty.
Sec. 39. (1) If a payer is committed to jail under section 33(b) or 35(2) and violates the conditions of the court, the court shall commit the payer to the county jail without the privilege provided under section 33(b) or 35(2) for the balance of the period of the commitment imposed by the court.
(2) If a payer is committed to jail under section 33(b) or 35(2) and fails to return to the place of confinement within the time prescribed, the payer shall be considered to have escaped from custody and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year.
552.641 Complaint alleging custody or parenting time order violation; duties of friend of court; declining to respond to violation; circumstances; compliance with § 552.519.
Sec. 41. (1) For a friend of the court case, a friend of the court shall do 1 or more of the following in response to an alleged custody or parenting time order violation stated in a complaint submitted under section 11b of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.511b:
(c) File a motion with the court under section 17d of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.517d, for a modification of existing parenting time provisions to ensure parenting time, unless contrary to the best interests of the child.
(d) Schedule mediation subject to section 13 of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.513.
(3) This section shall be implemented in compliance with the guidelines developed as required in section 19 of the friend of the court act, M.C.L. 552.519.
Sec. 42. (1) Each circuit shall establish a makeup parenting time policy under which a parent who has been wrongfully denied parenting time is able to make up the parenting time at a later date. The policy does not apply until it is approved by the chief circuit judge. A makeup parenting time policy established under this section shall provide all of the following:
"FAILURE TO RESPOND IN WRITING TO THE OFFICE OF THE FRIEND OF THE COURT WITHIN 21 DAYS AFTER THIS NOTICE WAS SENT SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS AN AGREEMENT THAT PARENTING TIME WAS WRONGFULLY DENIED AND THAT THE MAKEUP PARENTING TIME POLICY ESTABLISHED BY THE COURT WILL BE APPLIED.".
552.644 Civil contempt proceeding to resolve dispute concerning parenting time of minor child; commencement by office of friend of court; notice; finding of violation; powers of court; duration of commitment; release; bench warrant; sanction for bad faith; judgment; payment of costs.
Sec. 44. (1) If the office of the friend of the court determines that a procedure for resolving a parenting time dispute authorized under section 41 other than a civil contempt proceeding is unsuccessful in resolving a parenting time dispute, the office of the friend of the court shall commence a civil contempt proceeding to resolve a dispute concerning parenting time with a minor child by filing with the circuit court a petition for an order to show cause why either parent who has violated a parenting time order should not be held in contempt. The office of the friend of the court shall notify the parent who is the subject of the petition. The notice shall include at least all of the following:
(h) If available within the court's jurisdiction, order the parent to participate in a community corrections program established as provided in the community corrections act, 1988 PA 511, M.C.L. 791.401 to 791.414.
(6) If the court finds that a party to a parenting time dispute has acted in bad faith, the court shall order the party to pay a sanction of not more than $250.00 for the first time the party is found to have acted in bad faith, not more than $500.00 for the second time, and not more than $1,000.00 for the third or a subsequent time. A sanction ordered under this subsection shall be deposited in the friend of the court fund created in section 2530 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, M.C.L. 600.2530, and shall be used to fund services that are not title IV-D services.
552.645 Finding of contempt for noncompliance with makeup and ongoing parenting time schedule; suspension of license; agreement; rescission of suspension order; sending copy to licensing agency; hearing to show cause; hearing on modification of parenting time.
Sec. 45. (1) If the court enters an order under section 44(2)(g) and the parent fails to comply with the makeup and ongoing parenting time schedule, the court shall find the parent in contempt and, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, may order suspension of the parent's license or licenses with respect to which the order under section 44(2)(g) was entered and proceed under section 30.
(2) After entry of a suspension order under subsection (1), a parent may agree to a makeup parenting time schedule. The court may order a makeup parenting time schedule if the parent demonstrates a good faith effort to comply with the parenting time order. If the court orders a makeup parenting time schedule, the court shall enter an order rescinding the suspension order that is effective as provided in section 4 of the regulated occupation support enforcement act, 1996 PA 236, M.C.L. 338.3434, section 321c of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, M.C.L. 257.321c, or section 43559 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, M.C.L. 324.43559. Within 7 business days after entry of the order rescinding the suspension order, the office of the friend of the court shall send a copy of the order rescinding the suspension order to the licensing agency.
552.646 Custodial parent committed to jail under § 552.644(2)(e); violation of conditions of court; commitment to county jail without privilege; failure to return to place of confinement as escape from custody; misdemeanor; penalty.
Sec. 46. (1) If a custodial parent is committed to jail under section 44(2)(e) and violates the conditions of the court, the court shall commit the person to the county jail without the privilege provided under section 44(2)(e) for the balance of the period of commitment imposed by the court.
(2) If a custodial parent is committed to jail under section 44(2)(e) and fails to return to the place of confinement within the time prescribed, the custodial parent shall be considered to have escaped from custody and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year.