Payment Information

If you have questions about your child support or need to contact your caseworker, please fill out the Caseworker Message Form.

Making Child Support Payments

You can make cash payments using our Payment Application Form (PDF) (also available as a Word document) and the secure lock box outside the Van Buren County Administration building. Include your case number, payer’s name, payee’s name, and payment amount. The lock box is checked daily.

Depending on our preferred method of payment, you may need to provide:

• GovPay pay location code 1027
• MoneyGram receive code 14689
• MiSDU/ExpertPay FIPS code 26159
• County Code 80
• Payor’s date of birth
• PayNearMe code from MiSDU
• Payee’s name
• Payor’s name
• Friend of the Court case number
• Payor’s social security number

Payment Methods

The Friend of the Court accepts cash, credit card payments, or cashier’s checks in person. Do not mail cash. We do not accept checks or money orders at the office.

You can make a secure online payment through GovPay using this link: GovPay Payment Link

Mail checks or money orders with a payment coupon (PDF) to the address on the payment coupon.

MiSDU provides coupons if you do not have a wage withholding order. If your coupon amount differs from your court-ordered amount, pay the court-ordered amount. Use coupons to ensure proper payment identification.

Fees

Fees are $3.50 per month, added twice a year. A $21 fee is added on January 1 and July 1.

Charges

Michigan law converts weekly support amounts to monthly amounts using this formula: weekly amount x 4.35 = monthly amount. For more information, read Facts About the Michigan Child Support Formula (PDF).

Understanding Child Support Payments

Payment Processing

Child support checks and related payments are processed by the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) in Lansing, not at the Friend of the Court office. Keep any mail from MiSDU, as it may contain important information.

Payment Distribution

MiSDU follows federal regulations for distributing child support. Payments are applied proportionately to all of a payer’s Michigan child support cases. Recipients may not always receive the full court-ordered amount.

For more details, read:

• Allocation and Distribution of Child Support Payments (PDF)
• Facts About the Michigan Child Support Formula (PDF)
• Tax Refund Offset Program (PDF)
• Understanding Child Support – A Handbook for Parents (PDF)

For more information on receiving child support payments, visit our Child Support page.