Ingham County Clerk of Court

Ingham County Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction for hearing civil cases and all criminal and family matters. Its family division is responsible for cases involving juvenile delinquents, abused and neglected children, adoptions, name changes, emancipations, parental consent waivers and domestic relation matters. The court s juvenile casework unit supervises both juveniles on probation and families petitioned, while its juvenile court officers supervise juveniles on formal probation who are given specific orders to follow, which may include counseling, payment of restitution to victims, community service, drug screening and electronic monitoring. Its caseworkers in the neglect services division work with families to rectify family problems to make the home environment safe for children. Ingham County Circuit Court is located in Lansing, Mich.

The Ingham County Friend of the Court, created by Michigan law, works to protect the interests of children by assuring custodial environment, enforcing court-ordered support and assisting children in having appropriate access to both parents. It investigates, reports and makes recommendations to the court on custody, parenting time, the amount of support, and medical costs and insurance. The agency also provides meetings, conferences and conciliation as ways of settling disagreements over custody and the parenting time of children. The Ingham County Friend of the Court also records various support payments ordered by the court. Located in Lansing, Mich., it enforces custody and parenting time orders entered by the court.