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Child Support Unit

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the goal and mission of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office (WCPO) Child Support Unit to collect family court ordered child support monies due and owing to custodial parents for the good and welfare of the children of Wayne County. Further, it is the goal and mission to adjudicate Child Support cases in a manner that is fair and reasonable to all parties, without creating a permanent criminal record, and which has the best interest of children at its core.

DOES YOUR CASE MEET THE CRITERIA?
  • The Wayne County Friend of the Court is handling your case.
  • At least one child is under 21 years of age.
  • You are owed more than $5,000.
  • You have good reason to believe the non-paying parent has a job and can pay support.
  • Prior enforcement efforts have been unsuccessful.
  • Non-paying parent has been held in contempt by the court in the past.

HOW IT WORKS:.

  • Child support cases are issued by the WCPO only when there has been a chronic non-payment of family court ordered child support, and Friend of the Court (FOC) attempts at collection have been unsuccessful.
  • Non-custodial parents who are charged with a Child Support case are given the opportunity to appear in court, without arrest, in order to resolve their case.
  • Charged non-custodial parents are offered personal bond, without payment of bond money, while their case is pending.
  • Charged non-custodial parents are offered a "delayed sentence", or resolution of their case without creating a permanent criminal record.
  • Child support cases are resolved on a case-by case basis, and in a manner according to the individual circumstances of the non-custodial parent. Case resolution factors include the ability to pay child support, and the ability to seek and maintain employment. Cases are resolved in a manner that does not jeopardize the charged non-custodial parents' current employment, or future employment opportunities.
  • Charged non-custodial parents are referred to job training, and educational programs to assist in obtaining employment with a live-able wage that can support a family, and enable the payment of child support.
  • Friend of the Court (FOC) case specialists are on-site, and in-court daily to assist charged non-custodial parents with FOC matters which include case audits, motions to modify support, and applications to forgive state-owed arrears.
  • FOC has a program called P.O.W.E.R. Court (Providing Opportunities for Work, Education, and Respect). This program is designed to help non-custodial parents pay child support in these difficult economic times. The WCPO Child Support Unit does not charge cases in which the non-custodial parent is participating in P.O.W.E.R. Court.
  • The WCPO Child Support Unit issues cases derived from FOC Bench Warrant lists, referrals from Individual FOC case workers, and applications/requests by custodial parents.
  • The WCPO Child Support Unit handled over 4,300 Child Support cases in fiscal year 2018-2019.
  • In the last 10 years, the WCPO Child Support Unit has collected over $68,000,000.00 of child support money due and owing to the children of Wayne County.
  • For further inquiry, please call (313) 224-0465.

RESOURCES Support Frequently Asked Questions