Below are brief instructions about attending your court hearing. For more detailed instructions about going to court, read What to Expect When You Go to Court.
Go to the hearing location on the scheduled day and time. Dress neatly. Arrive 10 or 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing time. Go to the clerk and tell them your name, that you are there for a hearing, and that you are representing yourself. Follow the clerk’s directions and do not interrupt any hearing in progress.
Bring to your court hearing an original plus two copies of any document you wish the court to consider when making a decision in your case.
Bring the Uniform Child Support Order and two copies. Also bring the Deviation Addendum and two copies if you are asking for a support amount that deviates from the Michigan Child Support Formula.
When you are called, go to the place you are directed. Be prepared to state:
-
Your name
-
That you are representing yourself
-
That you need a child support order or a change in a child support order
-
The facts or reasons for your request (bring papers showing your income, such as pay stubs, W-2 forms, income tax forms, child care expenses, health care expenses, etc.)
-
Whether you have witnesses in court who are willing to testify
Clearly and directly answer any questions the judge or referee has. If the judge or referee wants to hear from your witnesses, ask them to say what they know about the situation.
If the other party is in court, they will also have a chance to speak. When the other party talks, take notes. Do not interrupt. After the other party speaks, you will have another chance to talk. Taking notes will help you with this.
Your case may have one of the following outcomes:
-
The judge may award child support or change the support amount to the amount you requested;
-
The judge may award child support or change the support amount, but order a different amount than you requested;
-
The judge could deny your motion, and the existing support order could stay in place.
If the judge decides to award or change child support, the judge may sign your proposed order or direct you to submit an order with different numbers. If the judge signs your proposed order and the other party is at the hearing, you can ask the judge to serve them with a copy of the order in the courtroom, or you can give them the order.
The judge may not make a decision at the hearing. Instead, the judge might refer the motion to the Friend of the Court (FOC) or schedule a trial. In some counties, you may meet with a FOC referee instead of a judge. If the FOC makes a recommendation in your case, or if a referee makes a recommended order, the judge will consider it. Either type of recommendation can become a final order in your case, but you will have a chance to object to it before that can happen.