Michigan Legal Help explains investigations, recommendations, and the Friend of the Court’s role.
Custody Edition · K♥
What will the Friend of the Court ask me?
The investigator's questions come from 12 best-interest factors. Learn them, find official guidance now and explore our planned interview practice.
Help you can use now · Michigan
Official information, forms, and real help.
Ask your county Friend of the Court office what your appointment is for and what records to bring. Local procedures and deadlines differ.
Find Friend of the Court forms. An interview does not automatically require a filing; follow your appointment notice and county office’s instructions.
Use Michigan Legal Help’s finder for legal aid, clinics, and lawyer options. Eligibility and availability are determined by each provider.
Links checked November 2, 2026. These organizations are independent; listing them does not imply partnership or endorsement. Unshaken does not prepare or file court forms.
What the interview is
- In a Michigan custody dispute, the judge can ask the Friend of the Court to investigate.
- An investigator usually meets each parent, may visit each home, may talk with your child, and reviews records.
- They write a recommendation for the judge. It isn't mediation, and the judge doesn't have to follow it, but it carries weight.
| Topic | Example question | What they're listening for |
|---|---|---|
| Daily care | Walk me through a normal school day with your child. | Specific routines, not generalities |
| Communication | How do you and the other parent communicate? | Civil, child-focused contact |
| Keeping kids out of it | Have you talked with your child about this case? | You haven't, and won't |
| Support for the other parent | How do you support their relationship with the other parent? | Willingness to share the child (factor j) |
| Home | Where does your child sleep and keep their things? | A safe, ordinary, child-ready home |
| School and health | Who handles school, doctors and activities? | Proof you're involved |
| Concerns | Do you have any safety concerns? | Facts, dates and documents, not insults |
Do
- 1
Bring records that show what you do for your child: school reports, medical visits, activity schedules.
- 2
Answer the question asked, briefly, then stop.
- 3
Describe concerns with dates and facts.
Don't
- Don't coach your child or ask them to say anything.
- Don't turn every answer into criticism of the other parent.
- Don't stage your home; ordinary and safe is what counts.
Planned practice · Join the waitlist
Meet the investigator before you meet the investigator.
Our planned Friend of the Court office would put you across the desk from an AI investigator who asks the real questions, follows up when you ramble, and keeps a 60-second clock on each answer. Then you see how each answer moved the 12 factors, and why.
This edition is not playable on this website yet. Features and access arrangements may change.
The cartoon investigator is friendly. The questions aren't softballs. That's the point.
FAQ
- Will the investigator talk to my child?
- They may. Tell your child it's okay to be honest and that both parents love them. Never rehearse answers with them.
- Can I bring documents?
- Yes. Bring records that show your day-to-day parenting.
- What if I disagree with the recommendation?
- You can usually object and ask for a hearing. Deadlines are short, so check your notice and ask the court or a lawyer.
Be ready when Unshaken launches.
General information and practice, not legal advice. Legal details reflect Michigan; other states differ.
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