How to Fill Out Michigan Form FOC 8 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Michigan Form FOC 8 is the Order Regarding Child Support that a Michigan circuit court signs to set, change, or end the dollar amount one parent pays the other for the support of a minor child. The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) approves this form, the Friend of the Court Bureau processes it, and every county circuit court enforces it under the Michigan Child Support Formula and MCL 552.605. Most parents now file the closely related Uniform Child Support Order on Form FOC 10/52, but FOC 8 still appears in older case files and in counties that use the legacy order, so the line-by-line instructions matter just as much today.

Getting one box wrong can stall a paycheck withholding for months and trigger arrears that compound at 8% per year. According to the Michigan FOC Bureau Annual Report, Michigan FOC offices managed roughly $1.4 billion in child support collections last year across more than 730,000 active cases, and clerical errors on support orders are one of the top three reasons cases bounce back for correction.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📝 What every box on Form FOC 8 means in plain English, with sample entries.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Three real-world filled-out scenarios you can copy from.
• 🏛️ Where to file the order and how each county handles submission.
• ⚖️ The statutes, court rules, and formula sections that control each line.
• 🚫 The most common mistakes that get FOC 8 rejected and how to avoid them.

What Form FOC 8 Is and Who Must File It

Form FOC 8 is the SCAO-approved Order Regarding Child Support used in Michigan circuit court family division cases to establish, modify, or terminate child support. The order is required any time a court enters a new support amount, changes an existing amount, or closes out a support obligation in a divorce, paternity, family support, or post-judgment matter handled under MCR 3.211 and MCL 552.517. The form itself is short, but it carries the full force of a court judgment the moment a judge signs it.

The form is filed by the moving party, which is usually a parent, but it can also be the Friend of the Court on a statutory three-year review, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in a IV-D case, or an attorney for either parent. The signed FOC 8 then becomes the controlling order on the case, replacing any prior support figure.

A new FOC 8 is required when income changes by 10% or more, when a child ages out, when parenting time shifts substantially, or when the parties stipulate to a new amount. Parents who skip filing a fresh order keep paying the old amount, even if their life has changed, because Michigan does not allow retroactive modification under MCL 552.603. The court can only change support back to the date the motion was served, so the filing date on FOC 8 is the date your wallet starts to feel the change.

The most current SCAO revision should always be confirmed at the SCAO FOC forms index before filing, because counties reject outdated revisions on sight.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Walking into the clerk’s office without the right paperwork is the fastest way to delay your support order by weeks. The pre-filing checklist below covers every item the FOC and the court expect you to bring.

• Your case number and county. The case number sits on every prior pleading and tells the clerk which judge and FOC caseworker handle the matter; without it, the order cannot be docketed.
• Both parents’ full legal names and current addresses. Names must match the judgment of divorce or paternity order, and a wrong address blocks lawful service of process.
• Each child’s full name and date of birth. The court uses these to confirm the child is still a minor under MCL 722.3 and to set the termination date.
• A completed Michigan Child Support Formula worksheet. The formula calculator generates the base support, ordinary medical, child care, and parenting time offset that you copy onto FOC 8.
• Proof of each parent’s income. Pay stubs, tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, and unemployment award letters anchor the income figures used in the formula.
• The current parenting time schedule. The number of overnights per year drives the offset, so you need a written schedule, not a guess.
• Health insurance information for both parents. Carrier name, policy number, and monthly premium amounts must be available to fill the medical support boxes.
• Child care costs paid for work or school. Daycare invoices, after-school program bills, and summer camp receipts are needed to support the child care line.
• A completed Verified Statement (Form FOC 23). First-time orders require this statement so the FOC can open a IV-D file.
• Any prior support order on the case. Modifications must reference the prior order’s effective date and amount on FOC 8.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official, fillable PDF lives on the SCAO FOC forms index and is free to download. The current uniform version most counties now use is the Uniform Child Support Order, Form FOC 10/52, and many courts treat “FOC 8” and “FOC 10” as interchangeable in everyday practice; ask the clerk which version the assigned judge prefers before filing.

You can also pick up a paper copy at the front counter of any Michigan circuit court clerk’s office or your county’s Friend of the Court office. County websites such as the Wayne County FOC and Oakland County FOC post local versions with county-specific captions, and using the local caption keeps the order from bouncing back for formatting.

If you e-file, the order goes through the MiFILE portal operated by the SCAO, which is mandatory in TCB-required counties and optional in others. Once uploaded, the order is routed to the FOC for review before reaching the judge’s chambers, so build in 7–14 extra days for that review.

Confirm the revision date printed in the lower-left corner of the form before you sign anything; SCAO publishes a new revision every few years, and clerks reject outdated revisions on sight under their internal quality-control checklist.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form FOC 8 Line by Line

This walkthrough follows the order of the boxes on the current Uniform Child Support Order. Each H3 below is a single field with the six elements every filer needs: plain English meaning, how to answer, a named example, an edge case, the most common mistake with its consequence, and the misconception filers carry into the box.

Caption: Court, County, and Case Number

The caption at the very top of FOC 8 tells the court system exactly where the order belongs and which judge has authority over it. You enter the judicial circuit number, the county name, and the case number in the header boxes, all in capital letters, with the case number formatted exactly as it appears on the prior pleadings (e.g., 24-123456-DM).

For example, Maria Lopez writes 3rd Judicial Circuit, Wayne, and 24-123456-DM across the three caption boxes for her Wayne County divorce case. If your case has both a domestic relations docket number and a paternity docket number, use the docket where the support obligation was established, not the newer one.

A common mistake is dropping the suffix (DM, DP, DS, NA) from the case number, and the consequence is that the clerk routes the order to the wrong file room, where it sits for weeks before anyone notices. The misconception here is that the caption is just decoration; in reality, an incorrect caption gives the judge a clean reason to refuse to sign the order.

Plaintiff and Defendant Names and Addresses

This block identifies the two parents (or the parent and the State of Michigan in a IV-D case) and tells the FOC where to mail every notice for the next 18 years. Enter each party’s full legal name as it appears on the judgment, the current mailing address, and the telephone number, using upper- and lowercase as the form prints.

For instance, James Carter writes his name as James Allen Carter, his address as 1422 Oak Street, Lansing, MI 48910, and his phone as (517) 555-0123. If you have a confidential address under the Michigan Address Confidentiality Program, use the substitute address provided by the Attorney General’s office instead of your real one.

The most common mistake is using a nickname (writing Jim instead of James Allen), and the consequence is that the FOC’s wage-withholding order can be rejected by an employer’s payroll department for a name mismatch. Filers often believe they can update an address later by phone, but the FOC requires a written Change of Address (Form FOC 108) on file before any update is honored.

Source of Income (Plaintiff and Defendant)

The “Source of Income” boxes capture each parent’s employer or income source so the FOC can issue an Income Withholding for Support order under MCL 552.604. Enter the employer name, payroll address, and phone number; for self-employed parents, enter the business name and the address where 1099 income is reported.

For example, Aisha Bennett writes Henry Ford Health, Payroll Dept., One Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48202, (313) 555-0140 in the source-of-income box. A self-employed parent like Marcus Reed writes Reed Plumbing LLC, 88 Industrial Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

The most common mistake is leaving this box blank because “the FOC already knows,” and the consequence is that wage withholding cannot start until the FOC mails a separate inquiry, costing the recipient parent four to eight weeks of payments. The misconception is that gig income (Uber, DoorDash) goes here; it does not, because the formula treats those earnings as self-employment, and you list the platform only if you want voluntary deductions routed through it.

Order Type Boxes (Interim, Temporary, Final, Ex Parte, Modifying)

Near the top of the order, you check a box that tells the judge what kind of order this is: interim, temporary, final, ex parte, or modifying an existing order. Check only one box, and make sure it matches the motion you filed under MCR 3.207.

For example, Janet Park, who is filing after a 22-year marriage and a final judgment, checks Final. Carlos Diaz, who needs immediate support while his divorce is pending, checks Temporary and Ex Parte because his motion was filed under MCR 3.207(B).

A frequent mistake is checking Modifying without attaching a copy of the prior order, and the consequence is automatic rejection by the FOC reviewer because the prior figure cannot be confirmed. Filers often think “ex parte” means “without notice forever,” but in Michigan an ex parte order is only valid until the other parent objects within 14 days under MCR 3.207(B)(5).

Effective Date of Support

The Effective Date line tells the FOC the exact day the new support amount kicks in, and Michigan law caps how far back this date can reach. Under MCL 552.603(2), the effective date for a modification can be no earlier than the date the motion was served on the other parent, written as MM/DD/YYYY.

For example, Maria Lopez served her motion on 03/14/2026, so she writes 03/14/2026 as the effective date even though the judge signs the order on 05/02/2026. For an initial order in a new case, the effective date is usually the filing date of the complaint, not the date of the judgment.

A common mistake is back-dating the effective date to a child’s birth or a separation date, and the consequence is that the order is void as to the back-dated portion, costing the recipient parent thousands in unenforceable arrears. The misconception is that the judge has discretion to pick any date; under Michigan statute, the date of service is a hard statutory floor.

Number of Children and Their Names and Birthdates

This section lists each minor child covered by the order, by full legal name and date of birth, so the FOC knows when each child ages out under MCL 552.605b. Write each child on a separate line, using MM/DD/YYYY format for the birthdate.

For example, Janet Park lists Emma Rose Park, 06/12/2010 and Noah James Park, 09/04/2013 on two separate lines. If a child has special needs and support will continue past 18, add the phrase “support continues past age 18 per stipulation” in the margin and attach the stipulation.

The most common mistake is listing the children alphabetically when the formula worksheet listed them by age, and the consequence is the FOC computer rejects the upload because the line items do not match. Filers often assume an 18th-birthday automatic termination is universal, but under MCL 552.605b(2) support continues until 19½ if the child is still in high school full-time and living with the recipient parent.

Base Monthly Support Amount

The Base Monthly Support line is the dollar figure that comes straight off Section 3 of the 2021 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual worksheet, before adding ordinary medical, child care, or applying the parental time offset. Enter the figure as a whole-dollar monthly amount, formatted as $XXX.XX.

For instance, Carlos Diaz enters $612.00 as the base monthly support for one child after running the MiCSF online calculator. If the formula generates a low-income result under the Low Income Threshold ($1,063 net per month in the 2021 manual), use the reduced figure the calculator produces, not your own estimate.

A frequent mistake is entering a yearly or weekly figure here, and the consequence is wage withholding sets up at the wrong frequency, causing massive over- or under-collection. The misconception is that parents can simply agree to a round number like $500; under MCL 552.605(2), the judge cannot enter an amount that deviates from the formula without specific written findings on the deviation lines.

Ordinary and Additional Medical (Health Care) Support

The Medical Support boxes split into two pieces: ordinary medical (the annual flat amount built into the formula) and additional medical (each parent’s percentage share of out-of-pocket costs above ordinary). For 2021 forward, the ordinary medical figure is $454 per child per year unless the calculator produced a different number.

For example, Aisha Bennett enters $37.83 per month for ordinary medical (which is $454/12) and writes that the payer covers 66% and the recipient covers 34% of additional medical. Health insurance lines also require you to identify which parent carries coverage and the monthly premium attributable to the children.

A common mistake is leaving the additional-medical percentages blank, and the consequence is that uninsured medical bills cannot be enforced through the FOC because the share is not a sum certain. Filers often think medical support is optional; it is mandatory under MCL 552.626a and the order will not be signed without it filled in.

Child Care Support

The Child Care line captures each parent’s share of work-related or school-related child care under Section 3.06 of the formula. Enter the monthly child care obligation the calculator produced, and identify the payer.

For example, Marcus Reed, whose ex-spouse pays $840 a month for after-school care, enters $554.40 as his child care obligation because his income share is 66% under the formula. If child care ends because the youngest child enters first grade, the line should specify the “end date” in the margin to avoid future enforcement.

A frequent mistake is including babysitting by relatives without receipts, and the consequence is the FOC strips the line out at review for lack of documentation. Filers often believe the child care line covers private school tuition; it does not, because tuition is not “child care” under the formula and must be addressed in a deviation.

Parental Time Offset

The Parental Time Offset box reflects the formula’s adjustment for the number of overnights the payer has with the child each year. The offset is built into the calculator and shows up as a reduction (or sometimes an increase) to base support.

For example, Carlos Diaz, who has 128 overnights per year, sees an offset that reduces his base support from $612.00 to $498.00; he writes the $498.00 figure as the final base figure. The offset uses the mathematical equation in section 3.03 of the formula and applies a steeper curve once a parent crosses the 128-overnight threshold.

A common mistake is counting daytime parenting time as overnights, and the consequence is a wildly inflated offset that the FOC reviewer will recalculate and strip out. The misconception is that “joint custody” automatically means a 50/50 offset; the offset is driven by actual overnights, not the legal custody label.

Deviation Findings

If the parties or the judge depart from the formula, the Deviation section must contain specific written findings under MCL 552.605(2). You must state the formula amount, the ordered amount, the difference, and the reason for the deviation chosen from the 20 reasons listed in Section 1.04(E) of the 2021 Manual.

For example, Janet Park writes that the formula amount is $1,820.00, the ordered amount is $1,400.00, and the deviation is justified because “the child has extraordinary educational expenses and the payer has agreed to pay private school tuition directly.” All four findings must appear, in writing, on the face of the order.

A frequent mistake is checking a deviation box without writing findings, and the consequence is that the order is reversible on appeal because the Court of Appeals has consistently held in Burba v Burba, 461 Mich 637 (2000) that bare conclusions are not findings. The misconception is that an agreement between parents is enough; even a stipulated deviation requires the four written findings.

Payment Through MiSDU

The order must direct that all support payments flow through the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) under MCL 552.605a. Check the box stating that payments go through the MiSDU and not directly between parents.

For example, Maria Lopez checks the MiSDU box, and her ex-husband’s wage withholding routes through MiSDU’s Lansing processing center before reaching her account. Direct parent-to-parent payments do not count toward the support obligation and are treated as gifts.

A common mistake is writing in a side agreement that the payer can pay cash directly, and the consequence is the payer racks up court-recorded arrears even while believing they are current. The misconception is that Venmo or Zelle counts; it does not, because only MiSDU-routed payments are credited.

Income Withholding Statement

The Income Withholding box confirms that an Income Withholding for Support order will issue immediately under MCL 552.604. The default is immediate withholding for every order entered in Michigan, even when payments are current.

For example, Marcus Reed leaves the immediate-withholding box checked because Michigan law presumes immediate income withholding for every new order. Self-employed parents still see this box checked; it simply has no payroll department to attach to until they take a W-2 job.

A frequent mistake is asking the judge to waive immediate withholding without proof of “good cause” under MCL 552.604(3), and the consequence is summary denial. The misconception is that the parties can opt out by agreement; only a written, judge-approved good-cause finding waives immediate withholding.

Tax Exemption / Dependency Allocation

This box assigns which parent claims the federal tax dependency exemption for each child each year. Although the exemption is suspended under federal law through 2025, the Child Tax Credit still tracks the dependency designation, so the box still matters.

For example, Aisha Bennett writes that she claims Layla every year and that the payer claims Omar in even-numbered years and Aisha in odd-numbered years. Allocation must be conditioned on the payer being current on support as of December 31, which is standard Michigan practice under Friend of the Court Bureau guidance.

A common mistake is leaving the box blank because the parents “will figure it out,” and the consequence is the IRS sides with the recipient parent every time under IRC §152(e). The misconception is that the order alone moves the exemption; the payer also needs a signed IRS Form 8332 for each year claimed.

Signatures (Parties, Attorneys, Judge)

The signature block at the bottom requires the judge’s signature on the right and, where the order is stipulated, both parties’ signatures (and any attorneys’) on the left. Sign in blue or black ink, print your name beneath, and date the signature.

For example, Janet Park signs her name above the printed line, prints Janet Marie Park, and dates 05/02/2026. The judge’s signature is the last to go on the order and is what makes it enforceable.

A frequent mistake is signing in pencil or a colored gel pen, and the consequence is the clerk rejects the order because it cannot be scanned cleanly into the court’s record system. Filers often think a stipulated order does not need a judge’s signature; under MCR 3.211(F), every support order requires a judicial signature to be enforceable.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Each scenario below shows what a different filer enters across the entire form. The tables use the form’s section names and a representative entry for each.

Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Initial Divorce, Two Minor Children, Shared Parenting Time

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Caption	3rd Judicial Circuit, Wayne County, 24-123456-DM
Plaintiff/Defendant	Maria Elena Lopez / David Andrew Lopez
Source of Income (Defendant)	Stellantis NA, 1000 Chrysler Dr., Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Order Type	Final
Effective Date	03/14/2026
Children	Sofia Lopez, 04/22/2015; Diego Lopez, 11/03/2018
Base Monthly Support	$1,140.00 (payer: David)
Ordinary Medical	$75.66/month ($454 × 2 ÷ 12)
Child Care	$420.00/month, payer share
Parental Time Offset	Applied at 110 overnights/year
MiSDU	Checked
Signature	Judge Susan Hubbard, 05/02/2026

Scenario 2: Marcus Reed — Post-Judgment Modification After Job Loss

Form Section	What Marcus Enters
Caption	17th Judicial Circuit, Kent County, 19-04421-DM
Plaintiff/Defendant	Lauren Reed / Marcus Allen Reed
Source of Income (Defendant)	Reed Plumbing LLC, 88 Industrial Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Order Type	Modifying
Effective Date	01/18/2026 (motion service date)
Children	Ethan Reed, 02/14/2014; Mia Reed, 08/30/2017
Base Monthly Support	$612.00 (down from $1,210.00)
Ordinary Medical	$75.66/month
Child Care	$0 — children now school-age
Parental Time Offset	Applied at 128 overnights/year
Deviation	None — formula amount entered
Signature	Judge Curt Benson, 02/22/2026

Scenario 3: Aisha Bennett — Paternity Case, Sole Custody, Public Assistance

Form Section	What Aisha Enters
Caption	30th Judicial Circuit, Ingham County, 25-00891-DP
Plaintiff/Defendant	Aisha Renee Bennett / Tyrell Marcus Johnson
Source of Income (Defendant)	Spectrum Health, Payroll Dept., 100 Michigan St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Order Type	Final
Effective Date	11/01/2025 (paternity establishment)
Children	Layla Bennett-Johnson, 07/19/2023
Base Monthly Support	$385.00 (payer: Tyrell)
Ordinary Medical	$37.83/month
Child Care	$240.00/month, payer share
Parental Time Offset	Applied at 52 overnights/year
Tax Exemption	Aisha claims every year while on assistance
Signature	Judge Wanda Stokes, 12/05/2025

How to File the Completed Form FOC 8

Once FOC 8 is signed by the judge, the order has to be filed with the county circuit court clerk and routed to the Friend of the Court for enforcement. Michigan offers four filing channels, and most counties allow more than one.

E-filing through MiFILE. The MiFILE portal is mandatory in TCB-rollout counties and optional in others. The filing fee for a post-judgment motion is typically $80, paid by credit card at upload; processing usually takes 3–7 business days and the proof of filing is the system-generated stamped order PDF, which you must save.

By mail. Send the original signed order to the circuit court clerk (e.g., Wayne County Clerk, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226) with a check made payable to the county clerk for any fee. Mail processing takes 7–14 business days and the proof of filing is the file-stamped copy returned in your self-addressed stamped envelope.

In person at the clerk’s office. Walk-in filing is allowed in every Michigan county; bring the original, two copies, your fee in cash or check, and a photo ID. The clerk file-stamps your copy on the spot, which is the strongest proof of filing.

Through the FOC office directly. Some counties (including Macomb and Genesee) accept signed orders at the FOC counter, and the FOC then walks the order to the clerk; processing time is usually 5–10 days, and the proof is the FOC’s intake receipt.

After the clerk dockets the order, the FOC opens or updates the case in the Michigan Child Support Enforcement System (MiCSES) within 14 days, and an Income Withholding for Support notice goes out to the payer’s employer the following business day.

What Happens After You File

Once FOC 8 is docketed, three things happen in parallel. First, the FOC enters the order into MiCSES, which is the statewide enforcement system that tracks every payment, arrears balance, and license suspension. Second, the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) opens or updates a payment account, and the payer’s employer is served with an Income Withholding for Support notice, usually within 7–14 business days.

Third, the recipient parent begins receiving payments either by direct deposit or by Way2Go MasterCard, the state-issued debit card. First payments typically arrive 30–45 days after the order is docketed because employers have one full pay cycle to begin withholding under MCL 552.611a.

If either parent disagrees with the order, they have 21 days to file an objection under MCR 2.119 (or 14 days for an ex parte order). After the objection window closes, the order is final, and any change requires a new motion and a new FOC 8.

Late payments accumulate 8% annual surcharge under MCL 552.603a, and arrears over two months of support trigger automatic enforcement actions like driver’s license suspension, tax refund interception, and credit reporting.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out Form FOC 8

Each error below is one the FOC’s clerical reviewers flag every week, with the direct consequence that follows.

• Leaving the case number suffix off. Routes the order to the wrong file room and stalls processing for weeks.
• Using a nickname instead of the legal name. Causes a name mismatch with the employer’s payroll system and blocks wage withholding.
• Back-dating the effective date before the motion-service date. Voids the back-dated portion under MCL 552.603 and erases unenforceable arrears.
• Entering a yearly or weekly support figure in the monthly box. Withholds at the wrong frequency, generating massive over- or under-collection.
• Skipping the deviation findings. Makes the order reversible on appeal under Burba v Burba, 461 Mich 637.
• Leaving the additional-medical percentages blank. Strips enforcement of uninsured medical bills because the share is not a sum certain.
• Forgetting to check the MiSDU box. Allows direct parent-to-parent payments that do not count toward the obligation.
• Counting daytime parenting time as overnights. Inflates the parental time offset, and the FOC reviewer strips it out.
• Listing children in a different order than the worksheet. Causes the MiCSES upload to reject the order entirely.
• Filing a “Modifying” box without attaching the prior order. Earns automatic rejection by the FOC reviewer at intake.
• Signing in pencil or non-standard ink. Prevents the clerk from scanning the order into the record system.
• Skipping Form FOC 23 on a first-time order. Stops the FOC from opening a IV-D file, so no enforcement begins.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do confirm the SCAO revision date in the lower-left corner before you sign, because outdated revisions are rejected on sight.
• Do run the MiCSF online calculator and attach the printout, because the FOC reviewer recalculates every order.
• Do save your file-stamped order as a PDF, because it is your only proof of filing if a payment dispute arises.
• Do use MM/DD/YYYY date formatting on every line, because MiCSES rejects mixed formats.
• Do confirm the parenting time overnight count in writing before you file, because the offset rises and falls sharply at thresholds.
• Do check the MiSDU box, because direct payments are treated as gifts.
• Don’t agree to a round-number support figure without writing the four deviation findings, because the order is reversible.
• Don’t waive immediate income withholding without a written good-cause finding, because the judge will deny it summarily.
• Don’t rely on Venmo, Zelle, or cash for support payments, because they are not credited.
• Don’t mail the original order without a self-addressed stamped envelope, because you will never see your file-stamped copy.
• Don’t assume an 18th-birthday automatic termination, because high school enrollment can extend support to 19½.
• Don’t skip Form FOC 23 on a first-time order, because the FOC will not open a IV-D file without it.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Filing FOC 8 pro se is workable for many parents, but the consequences of errors push some toward attorney or FOC help. The trade-offs below frame the choice.

Pros of filing on your own:

• Saves the typical $1,500–$3,500 attorney fee for a contested support motion.
• Lets you control the timing and pace of filing without scheduling conflicts.
• Forces you to learn the formula and the manual, which helps with future modifications.
• Works well when both parents agree on the formula amount and have no deviations.
• Uses the Michigan Legal Help interview-based form generator, which is free and accurate.

Cons of filing on your own:

• A single math error in the formula worksheet can cost thousands in mis-collected support.
• Deviation findings are technical and easy to miss without legal training.
• Self-employed-income calculations under Section 2.01(E) require careful schedule reading.
• Imputed income disputes (potential income) almost always require attorney help.
• Interstate cases under UIFSA bring jurisdictional traps that pro se filers rarely spot.

FAQs

Is Form FOC 8 the same as Form FOC 10?

Yes, both are the SCAO-approved Uniform Child Support Order, and most Michigan counties now use the FOC 10/52 version as the live form, while older case files still reference FOC 8.

Do I need a lawyer to file FOC 8?

No, you do not need a lawyer, but Michigan Legal Help and the FOC’s self-help desk strongly recommend at least a one-hour consultation if your case involves self-employment income, deviations, or interstate issues.

How much does it cost to file FOC 8?

Yes, there is a fee, typically $80 for a post-judgment motion that includes the order, and $0 if the order is entered as part of the original divorce judgment that already paid the $175 filing fee.

Can I file FOC 8 online?

Yes, the MiFILE portal accepts FOC 8 in every county that has rolled out e-filing, and MiFILE is mandatory in TCB counties under SCAO administrative orders.

Do I write the monthly or yearly amount in the base support box?

Yes, you must write the monthly amount, because the field is hard-coded as monthly in MiCSES, and entering a yearly figure causes the system to withhold 12 times the correct amount.

Do I list children oldest-to-youngest or youngest-to-oldest?

Yes, you list them in the same order they appear on the formula worksheet, which is normally oldest-to-youngest, because mismatched ordering causes the MiCSES upload to reject the order.

What if the other parent and I agree to a different amount than the formula?

No, the judge cannot just sign the agreed amount; under MCL 552.605(2), even stipulated deviations require all four written findings (formula amount, ordered amount, difference, reason).

Do I check immediate income withholding even if the payer is self-employed?

Yes, you still check the immediate-withholding box, because self-employed payers can pick up W-2 jobs at any time and the order needs to be enforceable the moment that happens.

Can support be back-dated to the child’s birth?

No, support cannot be back-dated before the date the motion was served on the other parent under MCL 552.603, except in initial paternity orders where the date can reach the filing of the complaint.

When does support automatically end?

Yes, support ends automatically at age 18, or at 19½ if the child is still in high school full-time and living with the recipient under MCL 552.605b(2).

Do I need to file a separate Income Withholding order?

No, the FOC issues the Income Withholding for Support (Form FOC 5) automatically once FOC 8 is docketed, so you do not need to draft a separate withholding form.

What happens if I make a typo on the order after the judge signs?

Yes, you can correct typos through a Stipulated Order to Correct Clerical Error under MCR 2.612(A), but only the judge can sign the corrected order, and the FOC will not act on margin pen edits.

Can I waive Friend of the Court services?

Yes, you can opt out using Form FOC 102 and the Uniform Child Support Order, No FOC Services (FOC 10a), but you give up automatic enforcement and must self-collect every payment.