Family Domestic / FOC

Third Judicial Circuit Announces Remote Services Only for CAYMC Location during NFL Draft Week

Family Domestic / FOC

Important Updates

The Friend of the Court hours are changing starting January 2, 2024. The Customer Service lobby at the Penobscot Building will be 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:

Friend of the Court Information
Filing Help

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 1-833-936-2889.

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

Ms. Stephanie Witucki
Chief Referee

(313) 224-6521

Zoom Meeting

Power Court

Penobscot Building
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Assistant: Kim Wilson (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

Courtroom 10E (formerly Lauren Wright Middleton)
Referee

(313) 224-2866

Courtroom 10-E, Penobscot

Zoom Meeting

Judge: Honorable Susan A. Dabaja

Penobscot Building, Courtroom 10-E

645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

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

FOC Attorney: Carl Meyer, (313) 224-6754

Motions Heard At: 9:45 a.m.

Ms. Alicia Bianchi
Referee

(313) 224-8178

Courtroom 11-B, 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:  Lee Ann Rutila (313) 224-7427
Motions Heard At:  9:00 a.m.

Ms. 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-

Courtroom , Penobscot

Zoom Meeting

Penobscot Building, Courtroom
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226

Support Staff:
FOC Attorney:

Ms. Gwendolyn Davis-Yancey
Referee

(313) 224-1790

Courtroom 11-C (sharing courtroom),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.

Mr. Daniel Ferency
Referee

(313) 224-2866

Courtroom10-D

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.

Mr. 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.

Ms. 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.

Mr. 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.

Ms. 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: Teresa Welch, (313) 967-6787
FOC Attorney: Carl Meyer, (313) 224-6754
Motions Heard At: 9:00 a.m.

Ms. 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.

Mr. 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.

Mr. 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: Vicki Leonard (313) 224-7168
FOC Attorney: Heather Lutz (313) 967-2619
Motions Heard At: 9:00 a.m.

Ms. Pamela Tracy
Referee

(313) 224-5350

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: Carl Meyer, (313) 224-6754

Motions Heard: 9:00 a.m.

Mr. Neal Unger
Referee

(313) 224 - 1790

Courtroom 11-C

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

The Salvation Army William Booth Legal Aid Clinic, in collaboration with the Wayne County Friend of the Court, will hold a Free Child Support Help Program on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at the Wayne County Community College District Northwest Campus, 8200 W. Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48219 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to consult with a volunteer family law attorney about their child support issues. This will be an arrest free zone. Click here for more info.

William Booth Legal Aid Clinic - Free help with Divorce and Friend of the Courts issues. Click here for more info.
Please note the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic will be canceled on Thursday, April 25, 2024 due to the NFL Draft AND on Thursday, May 9, 2024, due to staffing. We apologize for the inconvenience. You may visit the clinic on Thursday, May 16, 2024. The Clinic is held each Thursday, except the first Thursday of the month, at Suite 784 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. If you are unable to attend the clinic, you can call the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic at 313-361-6340.

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.

Walk-in resolution of Friend of the Court civil child support bench warrants in Courtroom 1907 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday has been temporarily canceled. Respondents with child support bench warrants may call (313) 224-4066 to attempt to resolve their warrant telephonically.

Filing of Confidential Documents

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Case Establishment Zoom Meeting

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.