Dear Parent:

Our records indicate that you have filed a domestic relations case in Van Buren County. Since you are representing yourself, you are responsible for preparing and submitting any orders in your case. Below are some resources that you will need in order to ensure your orders/judgments are in the required form.

1. You must calculate the child support amount in your case. Information about the child support formula and the support calculator program is enclosed.

2. Enclosed you will find a checklist of all items that are required to be in your domestic relations order. If your order does not comply with all of the court rules and statutes, the Friend of the Court will not approve your order, and the Court will not sign it.

3. Effective January 1, 2006, all support orders must be submitted on a FOC 10 form, which is a State Court Administrative Office form. The most recent version of the form must be used. You can find it online at www.courts.michigan.gov/scao/courtforms/domesticrelations/support/foc10.pdf

4. In addition to the FOC 10 you will also have to submit a judicial information sheet that is also available online at www.courts.michigan.gov/scao/courtforms/domesticrelations/focgeneral/foc100.pdf

5. Please make sure you check the website and that you have the most recent version of both of these forms.

6. In addition, if your order covers something besides child support, you will need to submit a separate order for those items such as parenting time, custody, divorce, etc.

7. If you are eligible to opt out of Friend of the Court Services you may do so only if you obtain an order which closes the Friend of the Court file. You must comply with the statute and the Court rule to obtain the order to opt out. If you are going to file a motion you should do so as soon as possible. Do not wait until you are asking for your final order/judgment to be approved. A self-help form is available online at the Friend of the Court website at http://www.vbco.org/government0255.asp

8. Last, all proposed orders must be submitted to the Friend of the Court Office for approval. You should allow 7 – 10 days for approval. Do not wait until the date of your final hearing to ask for Friend of the Court approval. Your orders must be approved by the Friend of the Court even if you are opting out of Friend of the Court services.
1-9-06