Filing for child custody in Michigan can hit your wallet in different ways. Let me break this down.
First off, you’ll need to deal with the court filing fee. Each county sets its rates – you’re looking at somewhere between $175-250 to get started. Can’t swing that? Don’t worry. If you’re financially tight, the court’s got your back with fee waivers.
The court might tell the Friend of the Court to investigate your case during proceedings. Both parties might have to pay some cash for this, and they want that money upfront.
As for lawyers (should you decide to get one), Michigan attorneys handling custody cases typically charge between $120-400 per hour. The exact rate? Well, that depends on how messy your case is and how long your chosen attorney’s been at this.
The above figures don’t cover everything. You might need to pay for expert witnesses or mediation sessions, which are separate expenses.
Given that each county operates differently, your best bet is to either:
a) Call your local family court directly or
b) Have a chat with a lawyer in your area.
