(1) If the position of friend of the court becomes vacant for any reason, the chief judge shall appoint a person to the position of friend of the court not later than 6 months after the vacancy occurs. An appointment under this subsection is not effective until approved by a majority of the circuit, probate, and district court judges serving in all districts that have any area in common with the geographic area served by that friend of the court.
    (2) If necessary, the chief judge may appoint an interim friend of the court to serve for not longer than 6 months until a friend of the court is appointed and approved under subsection (1).

Ask a divorce law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified divorce lawyers.
Specialties include: Family Law, Custody, Divorce, Child Support, Child Protection, Alimony, and more.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 552.523

  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Chief judge: means the following:
    (i) The circuit judge in a judicial circuit having only 1 circuit judge. See Michigan Laws 552.502
  • Court: means the circuit court. See Michigan Laws 552.502
  • Friend of the court: means the person serving under section 21(1) or appointed under section 23 as the head of the office of the friend of the court. See Michigan Laws 552.502
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l
  • Probate: Proving a will
  •     (3) A friend of the court appointed under this section is an at-will employee and shall demonstrate experience or education in 1 or more of the following areas:
        (a) A human service or behavioral science field.
        (b) Family law.
        (c) Administration.