In the state of Michigan, an initial interview with the Friend of the Court must take place when a divorce involves children. This interview will occur very early on in the divorce process, usually within the first one or two months of filing. It’s highly recommended that each party have their attorney present for this meeting.
During this initial interview, there is more of an emphasis placed on the physical custody of the children than the legal custody. On the table for discussion: the number of overnights each parent will have and the income of both parents. These very crucial details are taken into consideration to help the Friend of the Court make a recommendation of how much child support should be paid, and which party should be paying it.
In this video, lawyer Jacob Femminineo explains where this initial interview is held in Macomb County, why it’s required, how to prepare, and what can be expected from the Friend of the Court.
