Michigan Form FOC 92, Notice to Release Lien, is the Friend of the Court form used to officially terminate a previously recorded child support lien against an obligor’s real or personal property under MCL 552.625a and MCL 552.625b. It is filed by the Friend of the Court (FOC) office that originally perfected the lien, and it tells the lien recorder, the obligor, and the obligee that the lien is being released because the past-due support is paid, a payment plan is in place, or another statutory ground applies.
According to the most recent Michigan Friend of the Court Bureau annual report, Michigan FOC offices manage more than 800,000 active child support cases and collect over $1.3 billion in support each year, and a small but meaningful share of those cases involve perfected liens that must be released using FOC 92. Filing the wrong release form, missing a box, or sending it to the wrong recorder can leave a lien clouding title for years — even after the arrearage is paid in full.
In this guide you will learn:
- 📄 What Form FOC 92 actually does and which statute powers it
- 🧭 Where to download the current 6/22 revision and how to access it
- ✍️ How to complete every box, line, and signature block correctly
- 🧾 Three real-world filled-out examples covering the most common release scenarios
- 🚫 The most common mistakes that cause rejected filings and clouded titles
What Form FOC 92 Is and Who Must File It
Form FOC 92 is a Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) approved form titled Notice to Release Lien. It is used by a Michigan Friend of the Court office to release a child support lien that was previously perfected against an obligor’s property under the authority of MCL 552.625a and MCL 552.625b. The current version is dated 6/22, and that revision date is printed in the lower-left corner of the form.
The primary filer is the authorized agent of the Friend of the Court, not the obligor or the obligee. Even so, parents, lawyers, and title companies frequently look up FOC 92 because they need to confirm a lien has actually been released, demand its release, or track down a missing release. Title companies in particular often refuse to close a real estate sale until they see a recorded FOC 92 in the chain of title.
The form is authorized by the same statutes that allow Michigan to perfect liens for past-due support. MCL 552.625a(1) creates the lien by operation of law, and MCL 552.625b governs how the lien is perfected, prioritized, and released. The Michigan Court Rule that governs service of the release on the parties is MCR 3.203.
If you are an obligor (the parent who owed support), you may not file FOC 92 yourself, but you can demand it. If the FOC office refuses to issue it after the arrearage is paid or a satisfactory payment plan is in place, you can file a motion in the circuit court to compel the release.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Before opening Form FOC 92, the FOC authorized agent (or any person assisting an obligor in tracking down a release) should gather every supporting document the form depends on. Liens cross over into real estate, banking, vehicle title, and tax refund offset records, and one missing fact can stall a release for weeks. Use the checklist below as a pre-filing audit.
- The original Notice of Lien (FOC 91 or its predecessor). You must attach the previously perfected Notice of Lien to FOC 92, because the release only releases that specific lien.
- The court case number and the assigned judge’s name. Without these, the lien recorder cannot match the release to the underlying case.
- The obligor’s full legal name and date of birth. The lien recorder cross-checks DOB to avoid releasing the wrong person’s lien.
- The claimant’s case number. This is the FOC’s internal IV-D case number assigned through MiCSES.
- Plaintiff’s and defendant’s current addresses and phone numbers. These are needed for the certificate of mailing on page 2.
- The lien recorder’s name and address. For real property, this is the county register of deeds; for vehicles, the Michigan Secretary of State; for personal property, the Michigan Department of State UCC division.
- Proof the arrearage has been paid in full or a payment plan is in place. This is the factual basis the FOC checks in box 3.
- The signature authority of the FOC representative. Only an authorized agent of the FOC may sign the release.
If any of these eight items is missing, the lien recorder may reject the release as facially defective and the lien will keep clouding title until the FOC re-files a corrected FOC 92.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official, current 6/22 version of Form FOC 92 is hosted on the Michigan Courts website. You can download it directly from the SCAO Friend of the Court forms index or pull the PDF straight from the foc92.pdf direct link. Always verify the Form FOC 92, Rev. 6/22 notation in the lower-left corner before you begin typing — earlier versions (12/00, 9/12, 1/15) cite outdated statutory subsections and may be rejected by the lien recorder.
The form is available as a fillable PDF, which is the preferred channel because it eliminates handwriting errors that cause rejections. You may also pick up a paper copy at any Michigan circuit court Friend of the Court office or print one from a county FOC website such as Oakland County FOC or Wayne County FOC.
If you are an attorney filing through the statewide e-filing portal, you will upload the completed FOC 92 through MiFILE. MiFILE accepts the SCAO PDF directly and timestamps the filing for the court record. If you are a pro se obligor demanding a release, you cannot file FOC 92 itself, but you can file a motion to compel using Form MC 01 and attach a draft FOC 92 as the proposed order.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form FOC 92 Line by Line
The line-by-line walkthrough below follows the exact field names printed on the 6/22 revision. Every H3 below maps to a single labeled box on the form. Use the italicized sample text to see exactly what gets typed into each field.
Court, Judicial Circuit, and County Caption
The top of FOC 92 is the standard SCAO caption block. It asks for the State of Michigan judicial circuit, the county, the case number, and the judge’s name.
How to answer it: Type the circuit number (e.g., 3rd), the county (e.g., Wayne), the assigned case number exactly as it appears on the underlying support order, and the assigned judge’s full name. Use ALL CAPS for the county to match SCAO conventions.
A specific example answer: Maria Lopez’s FOC office types 3rd Judicial Circuit, WAYNE, case number 2018-123456-DM, and judge Hon. Patricia Perez Fresard.
A nuance or edge case: If the case has been transferred between counties under MCR 3.212, use the current circuit and county that holds the order, not the originating county.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Filers sometimes copy the case number from a different motion in the same family. The lien recorder will not link the release to the perfected lien and will return the FOC 92 unrecorded.
A misconception people hold about this field: Many assume the case number is the FOC’s internal IV-D number. It is not — the caption uses the circuit court case number, while the IV-D number goes in the claimant’s case number field below.
Friend of the Court Address and Telephone Number
This box identifies the FOC office issuing the release. The lien recorder uses this address to confirm the release came from a valid Michigan FOC.
How to answer it: Enter the full street address, suite or room number, city, state, and ZIP, plus a working daytime phone. Do not use a P.O. Box because some recorders require a physical address.
A specific example answer: Wayne County Friend of the Court, 645 Griswold Street, Suite 1300, Detroit, MI 48226, (313) 224-5300.
A nuance or edge case: If the FOC has multiple intake locations, use the address of the office that perfected the original lien, not a satellite office.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Listing only the courthouse main address without the FOC suite number can route returned mail to general court intake, where it sits for weeks before reaching the FOC.
A misconception people hold about this field: Some filers think this box is for the obligor’s address. It is not — this is the issuing office, not a party.
Plaintiff’s Name, Address, and Telephone Number
This block identifies the plaintiff in the underlying support case and indicates whether the plaintiff is the obligor (the person who owed support).
How to answer it: Enter the plaintiff’s full legal name, current mailing address, and phone. If the plaintiff is the obligor, check the obligor box next to the plaintiff line.
A specific example answer: Janet Williams, 1422 Maple Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067, (248) 555-0144. The obligor box is left unchecked because Janet is the obligee receiving support.
A nuance or edge case: If the plaintiff has moved and the FOC has a new address on file from a Form FOC 108 Change of Address filing, use the updated address so the certificate of mailing on page 2 reaches the right person.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Reversing the plaintiff and defendant names is the single most common FOC 92 error. The lien recorder will release the lien against the wrong party’s property.
A misconception people hold about this field: People assume the obligor is always the defendant. In paternity actions and post-judgment modifications, the plaintiff can absolutely be the obligor.
Defendant’s Name, Address, and Telephone Number
The defendant block mirrors the plaintiff block and includes its own obligor checkbox.
How to answer it: Enter the defendant’s full legal name, current mailing address, and phone, then check the obligor box if the defendant owes the released arrearage.
A specific example answer: Marcus Williams, 88 Lakeview Dr, Pontiac, MI 48340, (248) 555-0177. The obligor box is checked because Marcus is the parent who owed past-due support.
A nuance or edge case: If the obligor is incarcerated, use the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS lookup to confirm the current facility address.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Checking both obligor boxes (plaintiff and defendant) is treated as a facial defect, and the lien recorder will return the form unrecorded.
A misconception people hold about this field: Some filers believe the obligor must always be the defendant in a divorce. In a Friend of the Court interstate UIFSA case, the obligor may be the petitioner-plaintiff.
Case Number and Judge
This is the circuit court case number, written next to the bolded CASE NO. and JUDGE label, followed by the judge’s name.
How to answer it: Type the case number in the standard Michigan format (year-sequence-suffix) and the judge’s name with the Hon. honorific.
A specific example answer: 2021-789012-DS, Hon. Lisa M. Asadoorian.
A nuance or edge case: If the judge has changed mid-case, use the currently assigned judge listed on the Michigan One Court of Justice case lookup.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Using a docket number from a related motion (instead of the master family case) misroutes the release to the wrong file.
A misconception people hold about this field: People think the suffix (DM, DS, DP, NA) is interchangeable. It is not — DS and DM cases route through different FOC workflows.
Claimant’s Case Number
The Claimant’s Case Number line is for the FOC IV-D number, which is the federal case identifier used in MiCSES.
How to answer it: Enter the 10-digit IV-D case number assigned to the support obligation. Do not include dashes unless the IV-D number is printed with them.
A specific example answer: 0001234567.
A nuance or edge case: Some IV-D numbers from pre-2008 cases are only 9 digits. Pad with a leading zero if your MiCSES export shows nine digits.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Using the SSN or the court case number here breaks the federal OCSE cross-match, and the Office of Child Support Services will not update the federal lien database.
A misconception people hold about this field: Filers sometimes think the claimant’s case number is optional. On a lien release it is required because the federal child support enforcement system uses it to clear the lien.
TO: Lien Recorder
The TO: block is addressed to the entity that originally recorded the lien — the county register of deeds for real property, the Michigan Secretary of State for vehicles, or the appropriate UCC filing office for personal property.
How to answer it: Enter the recorder’s full legal name and address, exactly as it appears on the original Notice of Lien.
A specific example answer: Bernard J. Youngblood, Wayne County Register of Deeds, 400 Monroe Street, 7th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226.
A nuance or edge case: If the original lien was recorded with the Michigan Department of State UCC Section, use the Lansing UCC address, not the local Secretary of State branch.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Sending the release to the wrong recorder leaves the perfected lien intact at the original recorder, and a title search will continue to flag it.
A misconception people hold about this field: People assume one FOC 92 releases liens at every recorder. It does not — you need a separate FOC 92 for each recorder where a lien was perfected.
Obligor’s Date of Birth
This single field is the obligor’s DOB, used by the lien recorder to confirm identity.
How to answer it: Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format with slashes.
A specific example answer: 03/14/1985.
A nuance or edge case: If the obligor’s DOB on file with the FOC differs from the DOB on the original Notice of Lien (because of a prior data-entry error), use the DOB that appears on the original lien so the recorder can match the records.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Writing the date in DD/MM/YYYY (European style) makes the record fail the recorder’s DOB validation.
A misconception people hold about this field: Some filers leave DOB blank for privacy. The DOB is statutorily required for a valid release under MCL 552.625b.
Box 1: Lien Arose by Operation of Law
Box 1 confirms that a lien arose against the obligor’s property in the amount of past-due support and that the original Notice of Lien is attached.
How to answer it: There is nothing to type here, but you must attach the prior Notice of Lien (typically Form FOC 91) to the FOC 92.
A specific example answer: Maria’s FOC office staples a certified copy of the 6/14/2022 Notice of Lien behind page 2 of FOC 92.
A nuance or edge case: If the original Notice of Lien is lost, request a certified copy from the recorder before completing FOC 92, because the release language in box 1 references the attached Notice of Lien.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Forgetting the attachment is the second-most common cause of rejection. The recorder cannot identify the lien being released and will reject the filing.
A misconception people hold about this field: Filers think a reference to the original recording number is enough. It is not — the form text says attached, and recorders treat that as mandatory.
Box 2: Termination Under MCL 552.625a(1), MCL 552.625b(6), and/or MCL 552.625b(9)
Box 2 is the statutory authority statement: the lien has been terminated under one or more cited statutes.
How to answer it: There is no checkbox to mark in box 2 itself — the statutory citation is pre-printed. Confirm that one of the listed statutes actually applies before signing.
A specific example answer: For an arrearage paid in full, the FOC relies on MCL 552.625a(1). For a satisfactory payment agreement, it relies on MCL 552.625b(9).
A nuance or edge case: If you are releasing the lien under a different statute (such as a court order vacating the underlying judgment), you must instead use a court order rather than FOC 92, because the form’s box 2 only authorizes the three cited subsections.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: FOC staff sometimes use FOC 92 to release a lien that was actually vacated by court order. The recorder may accept the filing, but the case file ends up internally inconsistent and an audit can flag it.
A misconception people hold about this field: People think the FOC has open-ended power to release liens. It does not — the authority is bound to the three subsections cited in box 2.
Box 3: Reason for Termination
Box 3 has three checkbox options identifying why the lien is being released: arrearage paid in full, satisfactory payment agreement, or other.
How to answer it: Check exactly one box. If you check other, write a short, specific reason on the line provided (e.g., child reached age of majority and arrears discharged by court order dated 2/14/2026).
A specific example answer: For Marcus Williams (full payoff), the FOC checks the support arrearage has been paid in full.
A nuance or edge case: If the obligor entered a payment plan but is already 30 days behind, do not check the payment-agreement box. The plan is no longer “satisfactory” and the release is improper.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Checking two boxes makes the release ambiguous, and the recorder may reject it as facially defective.
A misconception people hold about this field: Filers assume other allows any reason. Other must still tie back to a statutory ground under MCL 552.625b.
Box 4: Release Effective on Receipt by Lien Recorder
Box 4 is the operative release language. It states that the release takes effect upon receipt by the lien recorder named above.
How to answer it: There is nothing to type. Read the language and confirm the recorder named in the TO: block is correct.
A specific example answer: No entry — the language is pre-printed.
A nuance or edge case: Even though the release is effective on receipt, title companies usually require the recorded release before clearing title. Hand-deliver or use trackable mail.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Treating the release as effective the moment FOC signs it can lead to a missed real estate closing if the recorder hasn’t actually received it yet.
A misconception people hold about this field: People believe the release back-dates to the original lien recording date. It does not — the lien is released prospectively on receipt.
Signature of Friend of the Court Authorized Representative
This is the FOC agent’s signature block, which includes the signature line and the date.
How to answer it: The authorized agent signs in blue or black ink (or with an SCAO-compliant electronic signature) and dates the line in MM/DD/YYYY format.
A specific example answer: Patricia Reyes, FOC Enforcement Specialist, 04/22/2026.
A nuance or edge case: If the FOC office uses delegated signature authority, the underlying delegation order should be on file under MCR 3.208.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: A signature by someone without delegated authority makes the release void, and the lien continues to exist.
A misconception people hold about this field: Some staff think any FOC employee can sign. Only authorized agents can sign FOC 92.
Page 2: Certificate of Mailing
Page 2 is the Certificate of Mailing, which proves the release and the original Notice of Lien were mailed to the parties or their attorneys at their last-known addresses as defined by MCR 3.203.
How to answer it: Fill in the case number at the top, list the parties served, the date of mailing, and sign as the FOC clerk.
A specific example answer: Case No. 2021-789012-DS. Served on Marcus Williams and Janet Williams by first-class mail on 04/22/2026. Signed: Patricia Reyes, FOC Clerk.
A nuance or edge case: If a party has an attorney of record, mail to the attorney and keep proof. Service on the party alone when an attorney exists violates MCR 2.107.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence: Skipping the certificate of mailing makes the release procedurally defective even if it is recorded, and the obligee can move to set aside the release.
A misconception people hold about this field: Filers think email or text counts as service. It does not — first-class mail is the mandated channel.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named scenarios that walk a single filer through the entire form. Use them as visual templates.
Scenario 1: Marcus Williams Pays the Arrearage in Full
Marcus Williams, the defendant-obligor in a Wayne County divorce case, has paid $14,200 in past-due support and the FOC needs to release a real estate lien recorded with the Wayne County Register of Deeds.
| Form Section | What the Wayne County FOC Enters |
|---|---|
| Judicial circuit, county | 3rd Judicial Circuit, WAYNE |
| Case number and judge | 2021-789012-DS, Hon. Lisa M. Asadoorian |
| Claimant’s case number | 0001234567 |
| Plaintiff (obligee) | Janet Williams, 1422 Maple Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067 (obligor box unchecked) |
| Defendant (obligor) | Marcus Williams, 88 Lakeview Dr, Pontiac, MI 48340 (obligor box checked) |
| TO: Lien recorder | Bernard J. Youngblood, Wayne County Register of Deeds, 400 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Obligor’s DOB | 03/14/1985 |
| Box 3 reason | the support arrearage has been paid in full |
| FOC signature and date | Patricia Reyes, 04/22/2026 |
Scenario 2: Aisha Carter Enters a Payment Agreement
Aisha Carter is the plaintiff-obligor in an Oakland County paternity case. She has a $7,800 arrearage but signs a payment plan to pay $250 per month, and the FOC agrees to release her vehicle lien recorded with the Michigan Secretary of State.
| Form Section | What the Oakland County FOC Enters |
|---|---|
| Judicial circuit, county | 6th Judicial Circuit, OAKLAND |
| Case number and judge | 2019-456789-DP, Hon. Karen D. McDonald |
| Claimant’s case number | 0007654321 |
| Plaintiff (obligor) | Aisha Carter, 511 Birch St, Ferndale, MI 48220 (obligor box checked) |
| Defendant (obligee) | David Bennett, 2200 Oak Ridge, Troy, MI 48084 (obligor box unchecked) |
| TO: Lien recorder | Michigan Department of State, UCC Section, 7064 Crowner Dr, Lansing, MI 48918 |
| Obligor’s DOB | 11/02/1990 |
| Box 3 reason | a payment agreement satisfactory to the friend of the court office has been entered |
| FOC signature and date | Daniel O’Hara, 05/03/2026 |
Scenario 3: Robert Nguyen’s Child Reaches Age of Majority
Robert Nguyen is the defendant-obligor in a Kent County divorce case. The youngest child has turned 19½ and the court entered an order discharging the remaining arrears under a hardship modification, so the FOC files FOC 92 with other checked.
| Form Section | What the Kent County FOC Enters |
|---|---|
| Judicial circuit, county | 17th Judicial Circuit, KENT |
| Case number and judge | 2008-112233-DM, Hon. Kathleen A. Feeney |
| Claimant’s case number | 0009988776 |
| Plaintiff (obligee) | Linda Nguyen, 75 Cherry Ln, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (obligor box unchecked) |
| Defendant (obligor) | Robert Nguyen, 9 Pine Hollow, Wyoming, MI 49509 (obligor box checked) |
| TO: Lien recorder | Kent County Register of Deeds, 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Obligor’s DOB | 07/19/1972 |
| Box 3 reason | other: arrears discharged by court order dated 03/10/2026 |
| FOC signature and date | Marisol Vega, 04/15/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form FOC 92
Form FOC 92 is filed with the lien recorder identified in the TO: block, with copies served on the parties. Each recorder has its own intake channel.
By mail to the county register of deeds. Mail the original signed FOC 92, the attached original Notice of Lien, and the recording fee. The standard recording fee in Michigan is $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page under MCL 600.2567. Pay by check made out to the County Register of Deeds. Processing time runs 5–10 business days. Keep the certified, recorded copy as proof of filing.
In person at the register of deeds. Walk the original to the recorder’s counter and pay by check, cash, or card. Same-day recording is typical. Ask the clerk to stamp your duplicate copy as your proof of filing.
Through MiFILE for circuit court filings. If the FOC office files a related court motion, use MiFILE to submit the FOC 92 as part of the court record. The platform charges the standard statewide e-filing fee plus the underlying motion fee. Processing time is generally 1–3 business days. The platform issues a Notice of Electronic Filing as your proof.
To the Michigan Department of State (UCC and vehicle liens). Mail the FOC 92 to the Michigan Department of State UCC Section, 7064 Crowner Drive, Lansing, MI 48918, with the UCC-3 termination statement if the lien was originally indexed in the UCC system. The UCC fee is $15 for paper and $10 electronically. Processing time is 7–14 days, and the Department issues a stamped acknowledgment.
Always retain a time-stamped or recorded copy — that is the document that ends a title-company dispute years later.
What Happens After You File
Once the lien recorder receives FOC 92, the recorder marks the prior lien as released in its public index and issues a recorded copy bearing a recording number, book, and page (for register of deeds filings) or a UCC termination acknowledgment. The release is then visible to title companies, banks, and vehicle title clerks.
The FOC office also updates MiCSES and the federal Office of Child Support Services to reflect the release in the federal lien database. Federal updates can lag the state recording by 2–4 weeks, which sometimes causes a brief delay in tax refund release if a federal offset is pending.
If the release is for a vehicle lien, the Michigan Secretary of State re-issues a clean title to the obligor within roughly 14 days. If the release is for real property, the recorded FOC 92 becomes part of the chain of title and clears the cloud on title for any future sale or refinance.
If you do not see the release reflected within 30 days, contact the FOC office that issued it and request a certified copy of the recorded FOC 92, then forward it to the affected agency.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using an old version of FOC 92. The 12/00 and 9/12 versions cite outdated subsections and may be rejected by the recorder.
- Reversing plaintiff and defendant. The lien recorder will release the wrong party’s lien, and the obligor’s property remains encumbered.
- Checking both obligor boxes. The form is facially defective and the recorder rejects it.
- Failing to attach the original Notice of Lien. The recorder cannot identify which lien is being released.
- Sending FOC 92 to the wrong recorder. Vehicle liens go to the Secretary of State, not the register of deeds.
- Skipping the Certificate of Mailing on page 2. The release becomes procedurally defective and can be set aside.
- Checking other without writing a statutory reason. The release lacks legal authority under MCL 552.625b.
- Using the IV-D number in the case number field. The release does not match the underlying court case.
- Signing without delegated authority. A non-authorized signature voids the release.
- Writing the obligor’s DOB in DD/MM/YYYY format. The recorder’s DOB validation fails and the release is returned.
- Forgetting the recording fee check. The recorder returns the package unrecorded, and the lien stays in place.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do verify the Form FOC 92, Rev. 6/22 notation in the lower-left before filing, because earlier versions are routinely rejected.
- Do attach the original Notice of Lien to FOC 92 every time, because box 1 references the attached Notice of Lien.
- Do confirm the obligor’s DOB matches the DOB on the original Notice of Lien, because the recorder cross-checks identity.
- Do mail copies to both parties’ attorneys when an attorney has appeared, because MCR 2.107 requires it.
- Do keep the recorded, time-stamped copy in the case file, because title companies will request it years later.
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Do update MiCSES the same day, because federal cross-match relies on it.
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Don’t use FOC 92 to release a lien vacated by court order, because the form’s box 2 only cites three statutory subsections.
- Don’t check more than one reason in box 3, because the recorder treats the release as ambiguous.
- Don’t rely on email or text to serve the parties, because MCR 3.203 requires first-class mail.
- Don’t assume the release back-dates to the original lien date, because the release is prospective on receipt.
- Don’t send one FOC 92 to multiple recorders, because each recorder needs its own original.
- Don’t sign as a non-authorized agent, because the release will be void.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most FOC 92 filings are completed in-house by the FOC office. But obligors often face a separate question: should they push for the release pro se, or hire a family-law attorney to compel it?
Pros of pro se follow-up:
- Lower cost, because there are no attorney fees on top of the recording fee.
- Faster informal contact, because obligors can call the FOC directly through the MiChildSupport portal.
- Direct knowledge of payments, because the obligor knows exactly when the arrearage cleared.
- Simple cases work well pro se, because most full-payoff releases are routine.
- Free legal-information support is available through Michigan Legal Help, reducing the need for paid counsel.
Cons of pro se follow-up:
- No leverage if the FOC delays, because pro se filers can’t easily file a motion to compel.
- Risk of misidentifying the recorder, because vehicle, real estate, and UCC liens go to different offices.
- No service expertise, because MCR 3.203 service rules trip up pro se filers.
- Title-company friction, because pro se filers often can’t produce certified copies on demand.
- Federal lien cross-match issues, because pro se filers can’t directly update OCSS records.
FAQs
Is FOC 92 the same as Form FD 92?
Yes. Many filers and search engines refer to it as FD 92, but the official SCAO designation is FOC 92, Notice to Release Lien, Rev. 6/22.
Can I file FOC 92 myself if I am the obligor?
No. Only an authorized agent of the Friend of the Court may sign and file FOC 92, but you can demand it once your arrearage is paid or a payment plan is accepted.
What statute authorizes FOC 92?
Yes, the form cites authority — specifically MCL 552.625a(1), MCL 552.625b(6), and MCL 552.625b(9) for the lien release authority.
Do I write the IV-D number or the court case number in the case number field?
No, not the IV-D number. The Case No. line is the circuit court case number; the IV-D number goes in the Claimant’s Case Number line.
Do I check the obligor box for both plaintiff and defendant?
No. Only one party is the obligor, and checking both makes the form facially defective.
Do I list the FOC office address or the obligor’s address in the Friend of the Court address box?
Yes, the FOC office. The box names the issuing office, not a party.
Is the obligor’s date of birth required?
Yes. The recorder cross-checks DOB to confirm identity; missing DOB is grounds for rejection.
Can FOC 92 be filed electronically?
Yes, through MiFILE when filed as part of a court record, but the recorded copy must still be sent to the correct lien recorder.
Is there a filing fee for FOC 92?
Yes. Register of deeds recording is $30 for the first page and $3 per extra page under MCL 600.2567; UCC termination is $15 paper or $10 electronic.
Does FOC 92 release every lien at once?
No. A separate FOC 92 must go to each recorder where a lien was perfected — register of deeds, Secretary of State, or UCC.
Does the release back-date to the original lien?
No. The release is effective prospectively on receipt by the lien recorder, not retroactively.
How long after filing will the release show up in title searches?
Yes, generally within 5–10 business days for register of deeds filings, 7–14 days for UCC terminations, and up to 30 days for federal cross-match updates.
What if the FOC refuses to release the lien after I pay?
Yes, you have a remedy — file a motion in the circuit court to compel the release, attaching proof of payment and a draft FOC 92 as the proposed order under MCR 3.208.
Does FOC 92 stop a tax refund offset?
Yes, but only after the federal Office of Child Support Services update posts, which can lag the state recording by 2–4 weeks.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form FD 8 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form FOC 47 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form FOC 50 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form FOC 87 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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