Michigan Child Support

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)

“Children need emotional and financial support from both parents. Even when a child’s parents do not live together, it is important they work together to support and be a part of their child’s life.

Regular payment of child and medical support provides:

Decreased conflict between parents.
Increased involvement of the non-custodial parents.
Increased chance of children reaching their full potential.

We help parents establish a financial partnership to support their child(ren).” — MDHSS

Overview

If you are a Michigan resident and have children, you may be wondering how child support works in our state. Michigan has specific guidelines and laws when it comes to child support, so it is important to understand how the process works.

In Michigan, both parents are legally responsible for supporting their children financially. Child support is typically paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent, but this isn’t always the case. The amount of child support that is paid each month is determined by the Michigan Child Support Formula.

The Michigan Child Support Formula takes into account both parents’ incomes, the number of overnight visits each parent has with the child, and any other relevant factors. Once the formula is applied, the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) will issue a child support order.

Child support payments are typically made through the MiSDU, which then forwards the payments to the receiving parent. If you have any questions about Michigan child support, or if you need help enforcing a child support order, check out our resources and child support calculator below.