Child Support Attorney FAQ

Serving Detroit, Ann Arbor and all of Michigan

Who has to pay child support?
In Michigan, child support orders are calculated using a detailed (and complicated) formula designed to take into account factors such as number of children, living and custody arrangements, income, and other factors. Depending on your specific situation, either parent—mother or father, custodial or non-custodial—may be ordered to pay child support.

For help estimating what your obligation might be under Michigan law, it is best to consult with an experienced child support attorney, who can help you establish the facts in your case.

At Robert G. Morrison & Associates, P.L.L.C., our divorce and child support lawyers are experienced and skilled in every aspect of child support law. We can help you establish business valuations to predict income, discover hidden assets, assess future financial needs, and do everything else necessary to ensure that the child support arrangement you agree to is the best possible outcome for you and your children.

Do mothers ever have to pay child support?
Yes, many times, mothers—both custodial and non-custodial—are ordered by the court to pay child support.

What if I didn't want the child?
Child support payments are intended to provide for the child, not to punish or enrich either parent. As such, Michigan law requires that parents financially support their children, regardless of whether those children were planned.

How can I contest paternity?
If you believe that a child you are being asked to pay support for might not be your own, it is essential that you establish the facts of the case as soon as possible. You can do this by asking the court to order a paternity test for the child. This test requires that you and the child in question have a small amount of DNA tested in a laboratory to establish whether the child is yours.

If you need to definitively establish parentage for a child, contact our child support attorneys today and we will review your case and help you determine how best to have a paternity test ordered.

What is a putative father?
When a married woman gives birth, her husband is the legal father of the child. When an unmarried woman gives birth, a 'putative father' may be named, based on the claims of one or both parents. This designation simply means that the man named is assumed to be the father of the child.

Other questions?
If you have any questions not answered here, or if you would like to discuss your case with an experienced family attorney, call or click here to schedule your free personal, confidential consultation with one of our experienced child support attorneys.