Child Support

In Michigan, both parents share a legal duty to support their children financially. A child support order provides the structure and predictability needed to ensure that your children’s needs are met and that both parents understand their obligations.

Whether you expect to pay support or receive it, what matters most is that the amount is calculated accurately under Michigan’s guidelines and reflects your actual circumstances. Understanding how Michigan’s child support system works—including how payments are determined and how they are transferred between parents—can give you confidence and clarity throughout the process.

At Alane Family Law, we help parents establish, modify, and enforce child support orders with a focus on accuracy, transparency, and long-term sustainability. If you have questions about child support in Michigan, we’re here to provide clear answers and practical guidance tailored to your situation.

How Child Support is Calculated in Michigan

In Michigan, child support is calculated using the Michigan Child Support Formula. Courts must use this formula when establishing an initial child support order or when modifying an existing order. The goal of the formula is to replicate as best as possible the financial support a child would have if their parents shared a household.

Michigan uses the “income shares model” to determine child support. The parents’ combined income and the number of children are used to calculate the total support amount. Each parent is assigned a percentage of the total support amount based on individual income, and that percentage is adjusted up or down based on the number of overnights each parent has with the child. Healthcare and childcare costs also factor into the calculation.

Parents sometimes want to disregard the formula and agree on an amount of child support they believe is more practical. But while parties can agree on most terms of a family law dispute, child support is a little different; it’s an obligation parents owe to their child, not to each other, and they don’t have the right to bargain away their child’s right to support. However, some situations exist in which child support can deviate from the amount determined by the formula; we can help you understand whether your situation warrants a deviation.

How Michigan Child Support Payments Work

Although both parents technically owe support, in practice the amounts are offset. Instead of each parent paying the other, the lower amount is subtracted from the higher one, and the parent with the greater obligation pays the difference.

To make sure support is paid consistently and recorded accurately, Michigan uses an income withholding process combined with centralized payment handling through the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU).

Income withholding – After a court issues a support order, an income withholding order is prepared and sent to the paying parent’s employer. The employer deducts child support from that parent’s paycheck.

MiSDU – The employer forwards payments to MiSDU, which is the state’s processing entity (not the court itself). MiSDU processes the payments, keeps an official record, and transfers the funds to the receiving parent.

This system helps avoid conflict between parents and ensures there is a clear record of when and how much was paid. Both parents can view the payment history, and if support is missed, the record makes enforcement easier.

For parents who don’t receive wages through an employer—such as those who are self-employed, unemployed, or working irregular jobs—payments must be made directly to MiSDU. Options include credit card, debit card, PayPal, Venmo, and ApplePay, giving parents flexible ways to stay current.

Enforcing and Modifying Child Support

Although paying child support is more convenient than ever, some parents still fall behind in their payments, and it may become necessary to enforce or modify child support. Each child support payment becomes a legal debt on the day it is due, and can be collected just like any other court judgment. Consequences for nonpayment may include garnishment of tax refunds, suspension of professional or recreational licenses, fines, and even jail time.

Sometimes a failure to pay child support is due to a loss of income, unexpected medical expenses, or some other valid reason. If you have a child support obligation that you can no longer meet, you need to ask the court to modify your child support obligation as soon as possible; payment amounts cannot be modified after they have come due. A parent receiving child support can also request a modification if there has been a substantial change of circumstances.

How Alane Family Law Helps with Michigan Child Support

Michigan uses a formula to calculate child support, but the outcome depends heavily on the information used. Income, parenting time, and other factors must be accurate for the calculation to reflect your true circumstances. Our attorneys use the most up-to-date tools and years of experience to ensure that support is calculated correctly from the start.

We represent both parents—those who pay support and those who receive it—in initial determinations as well as in motions to enforce or modify existing orders. Because support disputes can be stressful, we focus on reducing conflict and finding workable solutions outside of court whenever possible.

If litigation becomes necessary, we are seasoned advocates who know how to procure and present documentation and evidence effectively to the Friend of the Court or the judge. Our thorough preparation and persuasive advocacy give clients confidence that their child support matters are in capable hands.