Sec. 28.

(1) For a friend of the court case, the office of the friend of the court may petition the court for an order to suspend a payer’s occupational license, driver’s license, or recreational or sporting license, or any combination of the licenses, if all of the following circumstances are true:

(a) An arrearage has accrued in an amount greater than the amount of periodic support payments payable for 2 months under the payer’s support order.

(b) The payer holds an occupational license, driver’s license, or recreational or sporting license or the payer’s occupation requires an occupational license.

(c) An order of income withholding is not applicable or has been unsuccessful in assuring regular payments on the support obligation and regular payments on the arrearage.

(2) An office of the friend of the court shall not file a petition as authorized under subsection (1) unless the office sends the payer a notice that includes all of the following information:

(a) The amount of the arrearage.

(b) That the payer’s occupational license, driver’s license, or recreational or sporting license, or any combination of the licenses, may be subject to an order of suspension.

(c) That the suspension order will be entered and sent to the licensing agency unless the payer responds by paying the arrearage or requesting a hearing within 21 days after the date of mailing the notice.

(d) That, at the hearing, the payer may do either of the following:

(i) Object to the proposed suspension based on a mistake of fact concerning the overdue support amount or the payer’s identity.

(ii) Suggest to the court a schedule for the payment of the arrearage.

(e) That, if the payer believes that the amount of support ordered should be modified due to a change in circumstances, the payer may file a petition with the court for modification of the support order.

History: Add. 1996, Act 239, Eff. Jan. 1, 1997 ;– Am. 1998, Act 334, Imd. Eff. Aug. 10, 1998 ;– Am. 2002, Act 565, Eff. Dec. 1, 2002