Child support in Michigan is made up of payment “for the general care and needs of a child,” as well as for child care expenses, according to the Michigan Courts. As you may know, Michigan uses an income shares model for calculating child support, which means that both parents will be responsible for contributing to the total child support obligation determined by the court. In order to determine each parent’s individual child support obligation, the court will first determine each parent’s net income and combine those two amounts to determine the total net income. The court will include various forms of income, taking into account deductions, to determine the net income for each parent. Once the court has the total net income for both parents, it will look to the guidelines to identify the child support obligation amount. Then, it will consider individual factors and any reasons for deviating from the guidelines when apportioning the child support obligation between the parents.
When one parent has a higher child support obligation and may have less parenting time, that parent needs to make a payment to the other parent. You might be wondering about the methods for paying child support and whether you are able to pay child support with cash. In short, parents can make payments in cash, and they can also pay through other means, as well. Our Michigan child support attorneys can provide you with more information.
Parents Can Make Child Support Payments With Cash
If you are wondering whether it is possible to make child support payments in cash, the answer is yes. As the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) explains, for a number of years, “parents have been able to make their Michigan child support payments using cash at more than 550 locations in the state and 17,000 stores nationwide by visiting participating 7-Eleven and Family Dollar stores.” In addition to those stores, parents can also make child support payments in cash at CVS Pharmacy stores in Michigan and throughout the country. These cash payments can be made as a result of a partnership between the “electronic cash transaction network PayNearMe” and the Michigan State Disbursement Unit within the MDHHS.
Child Support Can Be Paid Through Other Methods
In addition to making child support payments with cash at stores that provide payment options through the PayNearMe network, parents in Michigan can also make child support payments in various other ways, including but not limited to:
- Deposits into a checking or savings account;
- Deposit into a child support debit card account;
- Electronic payment made online with a credit card through the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU);
- Phone payment through the Friend of the Court Interactive Voice Response System; or
- Mailing a check to the MiSDU.
Contact a Michigan Child Support Lawyer
If you have any questions about your child support obligations or your options for making payments, you should get in touch with an experienced Michigan child support lawyer who can assist you. Contact the Law Offices of Michael A. Robbins for more information about how we can help you with your child support case.