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
Cash payments can be made using our Payment Application Form (PDF) 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.
For all payment options, please see Making Child Support Payments (PDF) or Para Hacer Pagos de Manutención de Niños. You may need to provide:
- AllPaid 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, or cashier’s checks in person. Do not mail cash. We do not accept checks or money orders. Send checks or money orders with a payment coupon (PDF) to:
MiSDU provides payment coupons. If you don’t have a wage withholding order, you’ll receive coupons. If the coupon amount differs from your court order, pay the court-ordered amount.
Fees
There is a $3.50 monthly fee, added to your account twice a year. A $21 fee is added on January 1 and July 1.
Charges
Michigan law converts weekly support amounts to monthly. The formula is: weekly amount x 4.35 = monthly amount. For more details, 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. Keep any mail from MiSDU, as it may contain important information.
Payment Distribution
MiSDU follows federal rules to distribute child support. Payments are applied to all of a payer’s Michigan cases. Recipients may not always receive the full court-ordered amount.
For more details on distribution, please see:
- 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)
- Understanding Child Support Payment Distribution (PDF)
For more information on receiving child support payments, visit our Child Support page.
