The First Court Order (Divorce)

A temporary court order may provide for custody, support parenting time and other matters during the course of divorce proceedings.

Many divorce actions begin with a temporary court order. If you filed the divorce, your attorney may prepare a court order indicating who will have custody and perhaps what support should be paid. If you are not the party starting the suit, you will be served with notice that a suit has been filed. You must find out immediately what orders have been entered in your case. You may want to file a motion asking the court to change the orders if you are not in total agreement with them. 

The Friend of the Court cannot assist you in this process.  Go directly to your attorney or contact the Oakland County Bar Association (Pontiac: 248-338-2100; Royal Oak: 248-398-3937) for direction in obtaining an attorney. Time is important.

Who enforces the temporary order?
To enforce the temporary support order, contact your attorney or the Friend of the Court. You can complain in person at the Friend of the Court or write a complaint letter identifying both parties and the case number. Please date and sign all correspondence.

Special consideration on parenting time
If you have been served with an EX PARTE PARENTING TIME ORDER with which you don't agree, you may file written objections within 14 days after receiving notice of the order with the Clerk of the Court and the Friend of the Court. The Friend of the Court will try to help both parents resolve their parenting time difference within 14 days of receiving the objection. If an agreement is not reached by the parents, the Friend of the Court will supply a motion form which will allow a parent to bring the matter to the court without the assistance of an attorney. A hearing will be scheduled by the Friend of the Court within 21 days.

Friend of the Court Handbook