Legal Question in Family Law in Michigan

Dave and Mamie, residents of Michigan, divorced in 2008, and have joint custody of their daughter. In November of 2012, Dave moved to Texas for a better chance at providing a future for his daughter, leaving the kiddo with Mamie. Dave has been out of work for a while due to the economy, and owes approximately $3,000 in back child support. He has made 2 or 3 payments within the past 3 months, though. Mamie has also fallen on hard times, and was allegedly told by Michigan's Friend of the Court, that in order for her to get government financial assistance, either Dave must make more payments on the back child support, or she must file abandonment charges on him. Friend of the Court has not contacted Dave at all, nor sent any papers, etc., but he has just learned that he now has one week to catch up on all back child support , or his rights as a father will be terminated, according to Mamie. Mamie admits that she has papers she was supposed to mail to Dave from Friend of the Court, but she has made to attempt to do so, or forward on his phone number to them.
It seems to me, Dave's best friend, that there simply HAS to me more to this story. With the economy this way, at least half the parents out there would have their rights terminated with similar situations as well. What criteria must be met first in order for the state of Michigan to terminate parental rights due to back child support being owed? Dave is still out of work, so what can he possibly to do keep from losing his daughter?

Asked on 5/11/13, 5:44 pm

William Stern William Stern, P.C.

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You do not lose parental rights due to back support. Someone is not telling the truth.

Answered on 5/12/13, 6:02 am

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