Child Support
Paying Child Support
Child support is paid monthly. Typically, support is collected by an Income Withholding Order which garnishes the payment directly from the paycheck of the payer of support. If a withholding order is not in place, child support may be paid in one of the following ways.
Pay Child Support Online with MiSDU
Credit Card
Service fees apply to credit card payments. There are two options for paying child support by credit card:
- Pay Online with MiSDU
- All-Paid – accepts credit card payments online or via phone at 1-888-604-7888. You will need your case number, social security number and location code 8829 to use All-Paid.
Check or Money Order
Mail your check or money order and payment coupon to the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU).
Mail to:
MiSDU, PO Box 3035
Lansing, MI 48909
Please ensure to include your social security number or case number and name on the payment.
Cash
Pay at one of our locations:
PayNearMe
Cash payments are also accepted at CVS Pharmacies, Family Dollar and 7-Eleven stores nationwide using PayNearMe services. Service fees may apply.
Receiving Child Support
Child support is distributed electronically into a bank account or put onto a ReliaCard debit card. A ReliaCard will be mailed to the support recipient unless a direct deposit account is established before the initial deposit of support funds. MiSDU handles all inquiries about direct deposit plus questions about payment coupons, direct deposits, check issuance, lost/stolen checks, unclaimed checks, pin numbers, debit card disbursement questions, and disbursement details. Call MiSDU at 877-543-2660 and follow the prompts. Call ReliaCard at 855-233-8374 for inquiries about your debit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do payments I make through the phone system or online not post to my account right away?
If a payment is made, for example, on Monday, MiSDU receives the payment within 48 hours.
A payment initiated on Monday would be received on Wednesday. It would post to your account and disburse on Thursday.
Typically, payments are disbursed on the third day after payment is made. However, if a payment is made on Friday, or the weekend, payment will not begin processing until the following Monday. The weekend interrupts transmission because banks do not process payments on Saturday and Sunday.
How does a child support case get started?
If you are on public assistance your Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) worker can assist you with filling out the proper forms to assist you with establishing paternity and/or starting a child support case.
If you do not have a DHHS caseworker, you can apply for child support services online. If you are having difficulties applying online you may contact the Friend of the Court office to obtain a paper form you can complete and submit to start a case.
How will I receive my child support?
Child support is required to be electronically disbursed. This means that support payments will no longer be sent to customers in the form of a check. Instead, customers must have support deposited directly into a bank account or put onto a Way2Go prepaid MasterCard debit card. The customer may choose either option. The MiSDU handles all inquiries regarding direct deposit. Way2Go (1-844) 649-9843 handles all inquiries regarding the ReliaCard.
More information can be obtained from the MiSDU website MiSDU – Receiving Payment
How do I get my support increased or decreased?
You have the option to file a motion regarding support. Forms are available online.
Where's my money? I haven't received a payment in a while.
The automated IVR or MiCase website can provide you with the last payment and account balance information.
My housing agency is requesting verification of how much child support I receive each month. Where can the agency get that information?
The Friend of the Court office cannot provide information directly to the housing agency because Michigan Court Rules state that case specific information may only be released to a party or their attorney. However, this type of information is available on the MiCase website. We invite you to sign up for MiCase at https://micase.state.mi.us/micase. Once you receive your password, you will be able to access this and other information regarding your case on a 24-hour basis and can provide it to the housing agency.
A civil bench warrant has been issued for my arrest due to non-payment of support, what do I do now?
Please come into the Friend of the Court office immediately to resolve the bench warrant and avoid further enforcement action. Expect to make some kind of cash payment on the outstanding support arrearage and to provide employment and address information.
A felony warrant has been issued for my arrest due to non-payment of support, what do I do now?
A felony warrant results from a criminal case that has been issued by the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office or Michigan Attorney General’s Office. If this has happened then the Friend of the Court office cannot resolve the warrant and you must contact the Prosecutor’s office at (616) 846-8215 or Michigan Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (517)373-1111. You will need to know which agency issued the warrant in order to know who to contact.