Zoom Virtual Meetings

Family Domestic / FOC

 

Important Updates

 

The Third Circuit Court Civil, Criminal and Family Divisions will be closed Tuesday, December 24, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in observance of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with the following exceptions for the Family Division – Domestic Relations Section:

  • On Thursday, December 26, 2024, Friday, December 27, 2024 and Monday, December 30, 2024, the Family Division - Domestic Relations Section will handle the following matters:
    • Petitions for personal protection orders;
    • Petitions for extreme risk protection orders
    • parental waivers; and
    • emergency family division matters.
  • The County Clerk’s office will be open to the public for in person Domestic filings on Thursday, December 26, 2024 and Monday, December 30, 2024. During this holiday closure, the electronic Domestic Case Filing System will be available on December 26-28, 2024 ONLY.
    • The County Clerk’s record room and personal protection order advocates in 928 CAYMC will be open December 26-30, 2024.
  • The Friend of the Court Scheduling Office will be closed for in person service during this time, but will have a drop box available for those wishing to drop motions off.
  • The Friend of the Court Call Center will be open and accept calls on December 26 and 30, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and December 27, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Call Center may be reached at 1-844-785-7593.
  • There will be NO William Booth Legal Aid Clinic on Thursday, December 26, 2024. The next Clinic will be Thursday, January 9, 2025.


The Friend of the Court Customer Service lobby at the Penobscot Building is open for walk-in customers on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays ONLY, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (must be in line by 4:15 p.m.). Virtual Customer Service Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Friend of the Court Payment Window is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (must be in line by 3:45 p.m.)


The Family Division-Domestic Relations Section filing options have changed. Please see the filing instructions below for further information. The Clerk’s office located at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center is open for in-person filings for Family Domestic on Mondays and Thursdays ONLY. The Friend of the Court Scheduling Office is open for Friend of the Court motion scheduling ONLY.

See the following links for updates on operations during this time:

 

Overview

The mission of the Wayne County Friend of Court is to serve and educate families and assist the court in domestic relations matters to promote the best interest of children.

To speak to a Friend of the Court representative regarding your Friend of the Court case, please call 1‑844‑785‑7593.

Those needing TTY services may call 7-1-1 to be automatically connected to a Telecommunications Relay Service Assistant (TRS) who will assist with your call.
The TSR Assistant will then facilitate your call to the Friend of the Court.

To reach the State of Michigan’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, call 1‑877‑543‑2660.  When asked for the County, enter 929.  This system provides automated access to some payment and enforcement information for persons who have signed up for a PIN for their case.

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC)
Penobscot Building (PNB)

Ms. Erin Lincoln
Friend of the Court
(313) 224-6639
-

Assistant: Lori Kaczmarek


 

Ms. Jillian Fitzgerald
Assistant Friend of the Court - Legal Director
(313) 224-5370
-
Assistant:  Leslie George

 

Ms. Dominique Peacock
Chief Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney/Assistant Friend of the Court
(313) 224-7829
-
Assistant: Christina Rocha-Staub

 

Chief Referee Stephanie Witucki
Chief Referee
(313) 224-6521
-
Zoom Meeting

Power Court

Penobscot Building
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Assistant:  Julie DeGeorge (313) 224-6521


 

Ms. Denise Fitzhugh
Director of Administrative Operations
(313) 224-6760
-

Assistant: Dawana Andrews


 

Ms. Michelle Milligan Chiaravalli
Director of Family Assessment Services
(313) 833-2828
Questions about FAME Assessments Only

 

Case Establishment #1
Case Establishment Courtroom
(313) 224-5350
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

 
Case Establishment #2
Case Establishment Courtroom
(313) 224-5350
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

 
Case Establishment #3
Case Establishment Courtroom
(313) 224-5350
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

 

Referee Alicia Bianchi
Referee
(313) 224-8178
Courtroom 10-E, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Lawrence Elassal

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-B
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Maria Walker (313) 224-8178
FOC Attorney:  Joseph Dobesh (313) 224-2230
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Diane Biggar
Referee
(313) 224-5690
Courtroom 10-F, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Regina Triplett

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-F
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Gloria Howard, (313) 224-5690
FOC Attorney:  Jonn Walinske, (313) 224-5337
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Margaret Cotant
Referee
(313) 224-7164
Courtroom 11-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Referee

Parenting Time Docket

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-B

645 Griswold

Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff: Tonya Little, (313) 224-7164

Motions Heard: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8:30 a.m.


 
Referee Gwendolyn Davis-Yancey
Referee
(313) 224-1790
Courtroom 11-C, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Referee

Parenting Time Docket

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-C

645 Griswold

Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Denita Schroeder (313) 224-1790

Motions Heard: Monday, Tuesday, and alternate Fridays at 8:30 a.m.


 
Referee Daniel Ferency
Referee
(313) 224-2866
Courtroom10-D, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge: Honorable Melissa A. Cox

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-D

645 Griswold

Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff: Crystal Palmer, (313) 224-2866

FOC Attorney: Jared Hocker, (313) 224-6992

Motions Heard at: 9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Eric R. Gloudemans
Referee
(313) 224-8178
Courtroom 11-E, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Nicole N. Goodson

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-E
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Maria Walker (313) 224-8178
FOC Attorney:  Joseph Dobesh (313) 224-2230
Motions Heard At:  9:45 a.m.







 
Referee Rosanne S. Hostnik
Referee
(313) 224-5037
Courtroom 10-G, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Eric Cholack

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-G
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Lisa White, (313) 224-5037
FOC Attorney:  Alyce Haas, (313) 224-7608
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Michael Kwarcinski
Referee
(313) 224-5369
Courtroom 10-C, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge: Honorable Yvonna C. Abraham

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-C

645 Griswold

Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff: Jennifer Shelton, (313) 224-5369

FOC Attorney: Jonn Walinske, (313) 224-5337

Motions Heard at: 9:00 a.m.

 
Referee Christina McPhail-Stockdale
Referee
(313) 224-5350
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable 

Penobscot Building, Courtroom  -G
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:       , (313) 224-
FOC Attorney:       , (313) 224-
Motions Heard At:        a.m.


 
Referee Erika Morgan
Referee
(313) 224-5350
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable 

Penobscot Building, Courtroom   -G
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:           , (313) 224-
FOC Attorney:           , (313) 224-
Motions Heard At:   


 
Referee Eric Ratkowski
Referee
(313) 224-6521
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Eric Cholack

Penobscot Building, Courtroom ##-G
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:         (313) 224-
FOC Attorney:         (313) 224-
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Christine Rodriguez
Referee
(313) 967-6787
Courtroom 11-D, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Mary Beth Kelly

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-D
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Hope Hale, (313) 967-6787
FOC Attorney:  Jared Hocker, (313) 224-6992
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Lynn A. Ruhlman
Referee
(313) 224-7164
Courtroom 10-A, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Carla G. Testani

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-A
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Tonya Little, (313) 224-7164
FOC Attorney:  Heather Lutz, (313) 967-2619
Motions Heard At:  9:45 a.m.


 
Referee Lee Ann Rutila
Referee
(313) 224-5350
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable 

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff: 
FOC Attorney: 
Motions Heard At: 


 
Referee Hulen Simpson
Referee
(313) 224-0072
Courtroom 11-G, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Honorable Alexis A. Glendening

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-G
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Hope Hale, (313) 224-0072
FOC Attorney:  Alyce Haas, (313) 224-7608
Motions Heard At:  9:45 a.m.


 
Referee Edrick Thompson
Referee
(313) 224-7168
Courtroom 11-F, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Presiding Judge:  Honorable Helal A. Farhat

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 11-F
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Lisa White (313) 224-7168
FOC Attorney:  Heather Lutz (313) 967-2619
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Pamela Tracy
Referee
(313) 224-5690
Courtroom 10-B, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Judge:  Susan A. Dabaja

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-B

645 Griswold

Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:  Gloria Howard, (313) 224-5690

FOC Attorney: Helen Hsu, (313) 967-2678

Motions Heard: 9:00 a.m.


 
Referee Neal Unger
Referee
(313) 224-1790
Courtroom 11-C, Penobscot
Zoom Meeting

Referee

Parenting Time Docket

Penobscot Building,  Courtroom 11-C

645 Griswold

Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff: Denita Schroeder, (313) 224-1790

Motions Heard: Wednesday, Thursday, and alternate Fridays at 8:30 a.m.


 

Free Child Support Help:


View
Friend of the Court events

News / Announcements

William Booth Legal Aid Clinic - Free help with Divorce and Friend of the Courts issues. Click here for more info. 
Genetic testing is conducted at the Penobscot Building, 645 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226, Suite 123. Appointments are scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Walk-ins are only permitted on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (must be in line by 4:15 p.m.).
Wayne County Dispute Resolution, in coordination with Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, is presenting a Parent Education Program. This program will educate parents on the Friend of the Court and about mediation. Please see the attached flier for more information.
Respondents seeking to resolve a Friend of the Court civil child support warrant may walk into the Friend of the Court Customer Service area on the 1st Floor of the Penobscot Building, located at 645 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226, on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays only from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Respondents should be prepared to make a payment and a commitment to make future payments.  To expedite service, please let the security officer or sheriff present at the entrance know that you are there to resolve a FOC warrant.

 

Referee hearings are held Monday through Friday mornings at the times listed above for each Referee. Information on how to file a motion in front of the Referee and obtain a hearing date may be found at http://www.3rdcc.org/divisions/family-domestic/emergency-and-non-emergency-filings. If you have questions related to the dockets other than scheduling, please contact the assigned support staff listed above.


24 hour Case Information Access:
 FOC-Payment-Message

https://www.michigan.gov/michildsupport

Please visit above site for:

  • Account Balances
  • Hearing Dates
  • The ability to ask questions of a FOC caseworker, and more.

X close window