When Attorney General Mike Cox created the Child Support Division in April 2003, it was the first statewide support enforcement initiative in the nation.  In Michigan, unpaid child support has reached epidemic levels with more than $9 billion owed.  Fortunately, the division has seen impressive results as it fights to obtain compliance with support orders on behalf of Michigan's children.

Cox has focused the effort of the division on targeting those parents who have the means to pay, but simply choose not to.  Indeed, a neurosurgeon, former professional athletes, and an award winning gospel playwright have all either been charged or convicted for failure to pay their support.

Since 2003, more than $58 million has been collected in child support, directly impacting more than 5,000 children.  The division has reviewed more than 19,500 cases, issued more then 4,400 warrants and made more than 3,300 felony arrests of non-custodial parents.  This truly is a statewide effort, and by working together with the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support, the division has created cooperative prosecution agreements with most of the prosecutors in Michigan. 

Mr. Cox has received national attention for his commitment to Michigan's children.  The Association for Children for Enforcement of Support (ACES), the largest child-support organization in the nation has presented Cox with its Golden Hearts Award.  Cox was also lauded for founding the PayKids Foundation - a nonprofit corporation funded by corporate sponsors to help raise awareness of unpaid child support owed to their children. 

If you need help,  you can contact the Attorney General's Child Support Division by calling 517-373-1111.