Friend of the Court

The Barry County Friend of the Court is moving to the Barry County Courts and Law Building.
As of Monday, 4/11/22, our new address will be:
206 W. Court Street, Ste. 101
Hastings, MI 49058.
Child support frequently asked questions during COVID-19 outbreak
Custody and parenting time frequently asked questions during COVID-19 outbreak
Orientation sessions occur on a monthly basis and are currently being held via Zoom meetings (Zoom Meeting Instructions) (2022 Schedule)
Welcome to the Barry County Friend of the Court. We encourage you to use this site to educate yourself about the Friend of the Court (FOC). Our office would like this relationship to be a positive and professional experience for both you and the staff. Our mission is to provide excellent customer service while handling these domestic relations matters, keeping the child’s best interest at heart.
The FOC assists the Family Court with establishing, enforcing, and modifying court orders regarding child support, child care expenses, custody, parenting time, uninsured medical costs, spousal support (alimony), and domicile (residence). The FOC becomes involved when an action is filed with the Court by an attorney, the prosecuting attorney or one of the parties. A filed action could include divorce, custody, support or paternity establishment. After an action is filed the Judge makes a determination, an order is signed and is filed with the County Clerk. At this time, enforcing and modifying court orders, collecting support payments, making recommendations for support, custody, and parenting time will begin.
Contact Information | |
Hours of Operation | Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Location | 206 W. Court Street, Ste 101, Hastings, MI 49058 The FOC is located on the First Floor of the Barry County Courts and Law Building Click here for a map |
Telephone/Fax Number | 24-Hr Interactive Voice Response (IVR): 877-543-2660 Main Line: 269-945-1283 Fax: 269-948-3331 Click here for FOC staff and telephone extensions |
Email Address | foc@barryco.org |
Holiday Schedule | Holiday Schedule |
Links to Helpful Websites | |
Website | Description |
GovPayNow | Make an online payment with credit/debit card Four-digit pay location code: 1064 |
MIChildSupport | Assistance with child support |
Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) | Assistance with child support |
Michigan Legal Help | Free, accurate legal information Assistance & Referrals for Michigan residents |
Legal Assistance Center | Free service - no income or other requirements Kent County Courthouse, Suite 5100, Grand Rapids |
The State Court Administrative Office | Self-help center |