Yes, Friend of the Court can suspend your Michigan driver's license for unpaid child support or spousal support
Friend of the Court is the state agency that enforces child support and spousal support orders in Michigan. If you fall behind on these payments, Friend of the Court has the power to ask the Secretary of State to suspend your license — and the Secretary of State will do it. This is one of the most common reasons a Michigan driver loses their license, separate from traffic violations or DUI convictions.
The suspension happens automatically once Friend of the Court reports you to the state. You do not receive a separate court hearing or warning before the suspension takes effect. The only way to get your license back is to catch up on the support you owe, make a payment plan that Friend of the Court accepts, or have a judge modify your support order if your circumstances have changed.
This matters because you cannot legally drive to work, to court, or anywhere else once the suspension is in place. Many people do not realize Friend of the Court has this power until their license is already gone.
Key Takeaways
- Friend of the Court can suspend your license if you are more than one month behind on child support or spousal support payments.
- The suspension is automatic — Friend of the Court reports you to the Secretary of State, and your license is suspended without a court hearing.
- You can stop the suspension by paying what you owe in full, setting up a payment plan that Friend of the Court accepts, or getting a judge to lower your support order.
- If you lose your job or your income drops, you can ask Friend of the Court or a judge to modify your support order before you fall behind.
When Friend of the Court reports you to the Secretary of State
Friend of the Court does not suspend your license directly. Instead, they report you to the Michigan Secretary of State, which then suspends it. This happens when you are more than one month behind on your support payments. The exact timing depends on when Friend of the Court processes the report, but you should expect the suspension to take effect within a few weeks of falling that far behind.
You will receive a notice in the mail from the Secretary of State telling you that your license has been suspended. This notice will explain why (unpaid support) and what you need to do to get it back. Keep this notice — you will need it if you want to challenge the suspension or prove to an employer that you are working to resolve it.
The suspension stays in place until Friend of the Court tells the Secretary of State to lift it. Friend of the Court will only do this once you have paid what you owe or made an arrangement they accept.
How much you have to owe before suspension happens
You do not have to owe a large amount. If you miss even one full month of support payments, you are technically in arrears. However, Friend of the Court typically waits until you are more than one month behind before reporting you to the Secretary of State. This means if your payment is due on the 15th and you pay on the 20th, you are late but not yet in arrears for suspension purposes.
The exact threshold varies slightly depending on your case and how Friend of the Court processes reports in your county. The safest approach is to treat any missed payment as urgent and contact Friend of the Court when ready to explain what happened and when you can catch up.
How to stop the suspension before it happens
If you know you cannot make your next support payment, do not wait for the suspension. Contact Friend of the Court in your county as soon as possible. Explain your situation — job loss, medical emergency, reduced hours, unexpected expense — and ask about your options.
Friend of the Court can work with you on a payment plan that lets you pay what you owe over time instead of all at once. If they accept the plan, they will not report you to the Secretary of State, and your license will stay valid. Payment plans are common and are designed for exactly this situation.
If your income has permanently dropped — you lost your job, your hours were cut, or you became disabled — you can ask Friend of the Court to refer your case to a judge for a modification. A judge can lower your support order to match your current income. This is a formal process that takes a few weeks, but it protects you from suspension if you cannot afford the original amount.
How to get your license back after suspension
Once your license is suspended, you have three paths to restore it. The fastest is to pay the full amount you owe. Contact Friend of the Court, find out the exact balance, and pay it in full if you can. Friend of the Court will then notify the Secretary of State, and your license will be reinstated within a few business days.
If you cannot pay in full, you can set up a payment plan with Friend of the Court. The plan must be in writing and must be accepted by Friend of the Court before your license will be restored. Once the plan is in place, Friend of the Court will ask the Secretary of State to lift the suspension. You must stick to the plan — if you miss a payment, the suspension can be reinstated.
The third option is to ask a judge to modify your support order. If your income has dropped since the order was set, a judge can lower the amount you owe each month. This does not erase what you already owe, but it can make future payments manageable and prevent another suspension. You will need to file a motion for modification in the family court that issued your support order.
What happens if you drive on a suspended license
Driving with a suspended license in Michigan is a crime. If you are pulled over, you can be arrested, fined, and have your vehicle impounded. A conviction for driving with a suspended license stays on your record and can affect your ability to get a job, especially one that requires driving.
Even if you are not pulled over, driving on a suspended license puts you at legal and financial risk. If you are in an accident, your insurance may not cover the damage because you were driving illegally. If someone is injured, you could face additional criminal charges.
If you need to drive for work or to get to court, talk to Friend of the Court about a payment plan or modification before your license is suspended. If it is already suspended, work with them to restore it as quickly as possible rather than risking a criminal charge.
The difference between Friend of the Court suspension and other types of suspension
Michigan suspends driver's licenses for several reasons: unpaid child or spousal support (Friend of the Court), unpaid traffic fines or court costs, DUI convictions, accumulating too many points from traffic violations, and failure to maintain car insurance. Each type of suspension has different rules for how long it lasts and how to get your license back.
A Friend of the Court suspension is different because it is tied to a specific dollar amount you owe. Once you pay or make a plan, it can be lifted when ready. Other suspensions — like those for traffic violations or DUI — last for a set period of time and cannot be lifted early no matter what you do.
If you have more than one type of suspension on your record, you must resolve all of them before the Secretary of State will restore your license. For example, if you have a Friend of the Court suspension and an unpaid traffic fine suspension, you have to address both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Friend of the Court suspend my license if I am paying late but still paying?
No, as long as you are paying, even if you are a few days late. Friend of the Court reports you only when you are more than one month behind. However, paying late can add fees and interest to your balance, so it is better to pay on time if you can.
What if I did not know about my support order?
Friend of the Court still has the power to suspend your license. However, if you can show that you never received notice of the order, you may be able to ask a judge to set it aside or modify it. Contact Friend of the Court or a family law attorney when ready to explain your situation.
Can I get a work permit or hardship license while my license is suspended for unpaid support?
Michigan does not issue work permits for Friend of the Court suspensions. Your only options are to pay what you owe, set up a payment plan, or get a judge to modify your support order. A hardship license is not available for this type of suspension.
How long does it take to get my license back after I pay?
Once Friend of the Court receives your payment and confirms it, they notify the Secretary of State. The reinstatement usually takes three to five business days. During that time, you should not drive — the suspension is still technically in effect until the Secretary of State processes the removal.
What if I cannot afford to pay or set up a payment plan?
Ask Friend of the Court about a modification. If your income is genuinely too low to pay the current support order, a judge can lower it. You will still owe what you already accumulated, but the monthly amount can be reduced to something you can actually afford.