I filed a Motion to change parenting time and the Referee said I did not meet the “threshold” pursuant to Vodvarka and Shade. What does this mean?

 Answer:  Vodvarka and Shade are the names of two Michigan Court Of Appeals opinions that set the standards for when custody and parenting time can be reviewed. When you file a Motion to modify custody or parenting time the Court must first determine if there has been a change in circumstances since the entry of… Read More »

I filed a Motion regarding Child Support. Why is the Friend of the Court handling this and not the Judge?

Answer:  I get asked often about the process for hearing Motions in Livingston County. When someone files a Motion that has to do with Custody, Parenting Time or Support, the Judge assigns the case to be heard by a FOC Referee. The Referee first conducts a Screening Hearing. At the Screening Hearing the Referee attempts… Read More »

My Ex is trying to register the kids for summer camp and at a time that will interfere with my summer parenting time. This is a problem every year. Can I file my own motion to deal with this or do I need to have a lawyer?

Issues like this come up a lot, particularly at this time of year when summer plans are being made. Certainly you can file a Motion on your own but often it takes a long time for Motions to get through the system, particularly when you don’t have a good handle on how these things are… Read More »

How is Child Support calculated?

There are a number of different factors used to determine how much the child support obligation will be. First and foremost are the incomes of the parties and the number of overnights that the children will spend with each parent over the year. Other factors are the amount paid for day care (if a child is… Read More »

I pay about $3,000 in child support each month and my oldest just started college. I pay $1,000 per month to the school toward tuition and room and board. Can I deduct this payment from the child support and pay only $2000?

In Michigan, the answer is no in most cases. Because the Court does not have jurisdiction to order you to pay college tuition (except in very rare circumstances) the Court cannot give you credit for college tuition paid against child support. The same is true for other types of expenditures for the kids, i.e. clothing… Read More »

Should My Child Support Change?

Circumstances in every family change over time and often those changes affect child support. The Child Support you pay or receive can be affected by changes in income, overnights, daycare costs or health insurance costs. At Matecun, Thomas & Olson we offer a free Child Support Review to determine whether the child support you are… Read More »

What is included in Child Support?

Question: I pay about $3,000 in child support each month and my oldest just started college. I pay $1,000 per month to the school toward tuition and room and board. Can I deduct this payment from the child support and pay only $2000? Answer: In Michigan the answer is no in most cases. Because the… Read More »

What is included in Child Support?

Question: I pay about $3,000 in child support each month and my oldest just started college. I pay $1,000 per month to the school toward tuition and room and board. Can I deduct this payment from the child support and pay only $2000? Answer: In Michigan the answer is no in most cases. Because the… Read More »