Michigan: FOC Map Before the PDF
Michigan searches hide the fork: are you trying to change an order, or get an existing order honored? SCAO publishes the PDFs; counties and FOC offices run the workflow. This hub routes you into documentation and the form family that matches, before you pay a filing fee for the wrong story.
Michigan procedure overviews
Statewide orientation: choose the lane that fits your case (custody modification, parenting time, child support, or enforcement) before you open a checklist page. Checklists live on the Michigan forms hub.
Lane A: new order language
Schedule, decision-making, or facts shifted enough that the old order does not fit the week.
Lane B: order exists, time will not stick
You can quote signed pickup or return windows; the failure mode is behavior and proof.
After you name the lane
- 1
Name the court path
Pre-order, post-order FOC, or fixing a signed order that will not move?
- 2
Split change vs compliance
New language needs changed facts; clear language plus missed time needs a log.
- 3
Open the Michigan forms hub
Match FOC 87, MC 416, and FOC 89 to the job, not to what you wish the fight were about.
- 4
Verify county
Cover sheets, copies, and e-filing quirks still win at the counter.
General support (not Michigan-specific)
These tools can help you organize proof and language after you have picked a Michigan lane.
Deep evidence systems: Custody evidence & documentation (Resources).
Michigan-specific FAQs
Why does Michigan custody copy keep saying FOC?
Many post-judgment parenting-time and custody issues move through Friend of the Court processes before a judge signs. Ignoring that path is how parents prep the wrong packet or miss a step their county expects.
I need a custody change. Do I start with a motion or a story?
You start with a dated story that fits a motion: what changed, what you want signed, and proof handles. If you cannot say that in a short paragraph, the form is not the missing piece.
What is MC 416 doing in my stack?
It is the UCCJEA affidavit family many filings expect. If jurisdiction or interstate history matters, treat it as a gate, not an optional attachment.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-03
MyCustodyCoach is not a law firm. Court rules, fees, and form versions change by county; confirm what applies to your case with official court resources or counsel you hire.