FOC 89: Read Before You Sign
FOC 89 is Michigan's order form for custody and parenting time. It is easy to treat it as paperwork fatigue. It is not. This is the language future motions quote. Friend of the Court offices often sit in the middle of post-judgment parenting-time reality, but the signed order is what clerks and judges snap back to when someone says "that was not our agreement."
Michigan forms hub · FOC 87 motion lane
If you need new order language later, that work usually runs through the motion lane, not this order form. This page stays focused on reviewing what you are about to sign.
You receive proposed language
From FOC, counsel, or a draft order packet.
You compare to real life
School pickup, distance, work hours, not best-case weekends.
You fix ambiguity now
Concrete times beat reasonable cooperation clauses.
Custody-shaped sections
Legal custody and decision-making labels matter for school enrollment, medical branches, and who can sign what.
- Who decides major categories, not vibes
- Whether joint means consult or deadlock
Parenting-time sections
Grids drive make-up time fights. If exchanges are "flexible," someone will interpret flexible as never.
- Written start and end anchors
- Holiday rotation spelled out
| Easy to overlook | Why it bites later |
|---|---|
| Silent transportation duty | Arguments about who must drive when work schedules shift |
| Make-up time without triggers | Chaos when both parents claim good faith |
| Old address or school zone | Order drift after a move you already lived through |
Changing terms later usually runs through FOC 87 motion lane, not this order form.
Related guides
More Michigan forms
State guides (overview)
General support (not Michigan-specific)
FOC 89 FAQs
Is FOC 89 the same as filing a motion?
No. FOC 89 is the order form that captures what the court is signing after a motion, hearing, or settlement. FOC 87 is closer to the change-request lane.
Why do parents regret vague holiday lines?
Because every ambiguous line becomes a new argument. If the order does not say start time, return time, and exchange place, you will fight it in messages later.
What should I do before signing?
Read custody labels and parenting-time grids as if you are a third parent enforcing them next year. Match the words to your real calendar and school calendar.
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.