Reviews

Rip people off. This court need to be investigated bu att gen.

As a dad. They do what they can but unfortunately it is a mom over dad state unfortunately

There just doing there job. Yes they can be rude, but if people had jobs and a stable income I don't think it would be a problem for you. Quit being lazy and pay your bills. You can jump on some sex, but not a job? So the kids supposed to go out there at the age of five and work right? But in the end these guys are rude lol.

I used to have no issues with the Gratiot county FOC. That has recently changed. During the waiting period for our 3 year review (apx 3 months) the non-custodial parent continued to pay the usual amount. Flash forward to a month POST review, and I suddenly do not receive payment that month. I call to ask why, and I am told that he is credited back the OVER payment from those 3 months we were waiting (support was decreased because he "doesn't feel" like paying as much as he was). For FIVE long months, I had to call to get the payments that I was owed released to me. Every month I had to call and deal with the rudeness, impatience and general annoyance that was expressed to me. I addressed everyone with respect and kindness. I was prepared with intelligent questions and paperwork that was complete. For some reason, this kindness wasn't returned. For months after we got this issue "ironed out," I received payments on time. Suddenly, this stops. When I call, we find out that the non-custodial AGAIN has "over-paid" on his child care expenses. I call to get questions answered, and again I get extremely rude and condescending comments from the case manager (per usual) and the front desk "manager." I have now emailed 4 times since the start of the month (it is now the 14th) and have left 2 messages. Nobody has returned my calls or emails, and now I wait. In the meantime, the non-custodial parent received a letter suggesting that we move our case to the county closest to where I live, which according to them is Oakland County (where I moved away from over a year ago, and changed my address 4 times with the FOC). I never received this letter, so I am even more baffled and astounded by the inconsistency and incompetence of this department. I will be moving my case, and other than the FRIEND of the court herself, this department seems to be overworked, and without a single shred of good customer services skills between them all.

The main lady as of November 2014 that works in the FOC and is in the court room speaking with the judge to the plaintiff is the absolute rudest person I have ever had the experience of coming in contact with! I am not even involved in any child support dispute, I was simply trying to get directions and information on proper forms needed. This lady came out of her office to the window with her hands up in the air sneering "what do you want?!" "I cant help you!" "we close in 20 minutes!" when I proceeded asking a simple question to check and make sure I had the correct forms which I held up to the window to show her, she whipped her hand up and pointed to her computer and said "my computer doesn't show anything I don't know what you want its shut down for the day!" With my understanding of others who have had to deal with the same lady, they had even worse results. I know a father who had to go to a simple court hearing and this FOC lady proceeded to take an excerpt of a message left by the mother to her ridiculing the father and read it publically for everyone in the court to hear. Upon completion, when the father obviously tried stating his side and defending the irrelevant and slanderous accusations, the judge shot him down. Gratiot FOC is very unprofessional and seems to favor the mother no matter what the case involves.

I've dealt with FOC for over 5 years now and they have consistently belittled me and sided with the monther in our case. With one exception, I have encountered facilitators who are incapable of removing their own judgement from the situation and hear only the parts of conversations that appeal to the mother and punish the father. I have made a number of attempts to seek out additional time with my child only to be met with resistance and shaming. The most recent exparte order blatantly misrepresented the two hour conversation held in the offices of Karen Cole. If you are faced with dealing with the FOC, always bring an attorney, keep your mother shut and always always always watch what you say. They will manipulate the situation and the outcome of your case (fathers!) to align with whatever the mother wants to have happen. They will secretly plan a strategy together before you even get in the room to negotiate and you will lose everything. They just want to get on to the next case so they can go home. There's hardly a professional commitment to seeking mutually beneficial outcomes. Fathers, be warned, you will be punished for anything you say, do, or write. Get a fabulous lawyer and pay them well. It's the only way to beat them back.