Friend of the Court

Custody and Parenting Time

Parenting time is time a child spends with his or her parents.  A parenting-time order is based on the court's determination of the best interests of the child.  Under Michigan law it is presumed to be in the child's best interests to have a strong relationship with both parents.  For guidance about parenting-time issues and enforcing your order, see Michigan Parenting Time Guidelines and Kalamazoo County Parenting Time Policy.

Enforcement of Parenting Time

The enforcement of parenting time is only through the written complaint of those involved.  The issue can only be followed to the extent that it is set up through the original order.  Arrangements outside of this order, such as written or verbal agreements cannot be enforced by FOC.  Additionally, the office cannot initiate enforcement action on parent/child issues such as haircuts, curfew, etc.  Those issues, along with joint legal custody provisions, must be resolved by both parents on their own.  If no mutual resolution is reached, these issues must be petitioned directly to the Circuit Court.

Parenting time complaints must be submitted to the Friend of the Court office within 56 days of the alleged violation.