If you are involved in a divorce or custody matter in Oakland County Michigan than you need to know about the Oakland County Friend of the Court.
Like the name implies, the Friend of the Court (“FOC”) assists the Oakland County Divorce and Family Court Judges.
If an Oakland County divorce or Child custody or Child support case is pending in Oakland County, the FOC will provide services including:
- Early Intervention Conference;
- Child custody, parenting time and support investigations and recommendations;
- Hearings and recommendations on contested issues; and
- Support enforcement hearings.
in Oakland County cases, divorces that involve minor children begin with an Early Intervention Conference. These hearings are held at the Friend of Court and presided over by a referee. Attorneys accompany parties in this brief hearing where the referee learns what is at issue in the particular case and helps parties navigate the divorce process with children.
If custody, parenting time or support is at issue, the Oakland County Friend of the Court may conduct a custody, parenting time and support investigation and make a recommendation to the trial court as to its findings.
It is not uncommon for an Oakland County trial court judge to refer an issue to a referee to conduct a hearing. At the hearing, the referee will serve as the finder of fact and make a recommendation to the Judge. If neither party objects to the FOC recommendation, the recommendation becomes an Order of the Court. If one party objects, the issue is set before the trial judge who can review the FOC transcript, finding of fact and consider additional evidence in rendering a decision.
Finally, the Oakland County Friend of the Court conducts support enforcement hearings in cases were a party is not paying child support.
Each Judge is assigned an Oakland County Friend of the Court referee(s) and support staff and the Oakland County Friend of the Court is located at 230 Elizabeth Lake Rd, Pontiac, MI 48341. However on Wednesday mornings, the referee’s of the Oakland County Friend of the Court are typically assisting the court at the Oakland County courthouse which is located at 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, MI 48341.
Divorce Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan:
Referee: Mark Sherbow, 248-975-4447 – Hearing room #1
Case Assistant: Rachel Van Nest, 248-975-4447
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Susan McCoy, 248-975-4450
Account Specialist: Michael Post, 248-858-0827
Support Specialist: Stacy Fisher, 248-858-0592
Medical Support Specialist: James Krebs, 248-858-1002
Interstate Support Specialist: Dawn Cuthrell, 248-858-1959
Referee: Rebecca Decoster, 248-858-1835 – Hearing room #3
Case Assistant: Susan Morse, 248-858-1835
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Joseph Rzepecki, 248-858-1853
Account Specialist: Becky Desjardins, 248-858-1021
Support Specialist: Karen Marcus, 248-858-5563
Medical Support Specialist: Tami Hanser, 248-858-0312
Interstate Support Specialist: Dawn Cuthrell, 248-858-1959
Divorce Court Judge Jacob Cunningham:
Referee: Ilyssa Cimmino, 248-858-0447 – Hearing room #5
Case Assistant: Christina Wood, 248-858-0447
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Mary Kaye Neumann, 248-858-5562
Account Specialist: Scott Zabel, 248-858-0471
Support Specialist: Pauletta Carson, 248-858-4031
Medical Support Specialist: Adrian Long, 248-975-9718
Interstate Support Specialist: Jessica Cheney, 248-858-5509
Referee: Geoffrey Wojcikiewicz, 248-452-2014 – Hearing room #20
Case Assistant: Susan Jasmund, 248-452-2014
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Sandra Binder, 248-858-0448
Account Specialist: Becky Desjardins, 248-858-1021
Support Specialist: Shannon Fler, 248-858-1841
Medical Support Specialist: James Krebs, 248-858-1002
Interstate Support Specialist: Faye Catenacci, 248-858-1755
Referee: Traci Rink, 248-452-2046 – Hearing room #15
Case Assistant: Michele Balde-Book, 248-452-2046
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Jody LaMacchia, 248-858-0135
Account Specialist: Scott Zabel, 248-858-0471
Support Specialist: Andi Bayer, 248-452-2114
Medical Support Specialist: Adrian Long, 248-975-9718
Interstate Support Specialist: Micah Malhiot, 248-452-9245
Divorce Court Judge Kameshia D. Gant:
Referee: Tyler Martinez, 248-858-0477 – Hearing room #2
Case Assistant: Tori Petway, 248-858-0477
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: AJ Kitchen, 248-858-5539
Accountant Specialist: Lisa Standfield, 248-858-0470
Support Specialist: Diana Meredyk, 248-975-9693
Medical Support Specialist: Vilisa Hamilton, 248-858-5641
Interstate Support Specialist: Dawn Cuthrell, 248-858-1959
Referee: Kathryn Mayer, 248-858-0454 – Hearing room #7
Case Assistant: Becky Rudolph, 248-858-0454
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Katie Weston, 248-858-0452
Account Specialist: Lisa Standfield, 248-858-0470
Support Specialist: Stephanie Gregory, 248-858-4025
Medical Support Specialist: Vilisa Hamilton, 248-858-5641
Interstate Support Specialist: Robert Bridson, 248-858-1854
Referee: Ryan O’Neil, 248-452-2042 – Hearing room #12
Case Assistant: Randa Griffith, 248-452-2042
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Tara Gardocki, 248-452-2089
Account Specialist: Vicki Mouthaan, 248-858-0473
Support Specialist: Dana Redoutey, 248-452-9264
Medical Support Specialist: Vilisa Hamilton, 248-858-5641
Interstate Support Specialist: Faye Catenacci, 248-858-1755
Divorce Court Judge Lisa O. Gorcyca:
Referee: Kate Weaver, 248-858-0463 – FOC – Hearing room #4
Case Assistant: Sharmeka May, 248-858-0463
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Rodney Yeacker, 248-858-0450
Account Specialist: Michelle Johnson, 248-858-0472
Support Specialist: Carol Stephens, 248-858-5479
Medical Support Specialist: Diane Grabar, 248-858-0528
Interstate Support Specialist: Robert Bridson, 248-858-1854
Referee: Christopher Harrington, 248-858-0438 – Hearing room #14
Case Assistant: Kim Rivard, 248-858-0438
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Tracey Stieb, 248-858-0526
Account Specialist: Lauren McGill, 248-858-0473
Support Specialist: Tracey Carter, 248-452-9267
Medical Support Specialist: Diane Grabar, 248-858-0528
Interstate Support Specialist: Faye Catenacci, 248-858-1755
Referee: Lorie Savin, 248-452-2012 – FOC – Hearing room #18
Case Assistant: Roma Honer, 248-452-2012
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Brian Gallant, 248-975-9721
Accountant Specialist: Cathy Carpenter, 248-858-9796
Support Specialist: Darlene Conklin, 248-975-4293
Medical Support Specialist: Adrian Long, 248-975-9718
Interstate Support Specialist: Julie Gorman, 248-858-5507
Divorce Court Judge Lisa Langton:
Referee: Libby Blanchard, 248-858-5421 – Room #17
Case Assistant: Kelly Wormnest, 248-858-5421
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Katherine Stahl, 248-858-5559
Account Specialist: Cathy Carpenter, 248-858-9796
Support Specialist: Lisa Bristol, 248-452-9254
Medical Support Specialist: Adrian Long, 248-975-9718
Interstate Support Specialist: Micah Malhiot, 248-452-9245
Referee: Evanne Dietz, 248-858-0445 – Hearing room #9
Case Assistant: Kerisma Reed, 248-858-0445
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Kathleen Doan, 248-858-0758
Account Specialist: Vicki Mouthaan, 248-858-0381
Support Specialist: Wendy Waring, 248-858-0458
Medical Support Specialist: Vilisa Hamilton, 248-858-5641
Interstate Support Specialist: Julie Gorman, 248-858-5507
Referee: Lorie Savin, 248-452-2012 – Hearing room #18
Case Assistant: Roma Honer, 248-452-2012
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Brian Gallant, 248-975-9721
Account Specialist: Cathy Carpenter, 248-858-9796
Support Specialist: Darlene Conklin, 248-975-4293
Medical Support Specialist: Adrian Long, 248-975-9718
Interstate Support Specialist: Julie Gorman, 248-858-5507
Divorce Court Judge Julie McDonald:
Referee: Rebecca Ellis, 248-858-4925 – Hearing room #16
Case Assistant: Sarah Hool, 248-858-4925
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Aulesha Harris, 248-452-9212
Account Specialist: Mike Post, 248-858-0827
Support Specialist: Karyn Donohue, 248-858-0567
Medical Support Specialist: Diane Grabar, 248-858-0528
Interstate Support Specialist: Robert Bridson, 248-858-1854
Referee: Camille Dennis, 248-858-4926 – Hearing room #6
Case Assistant: Erica Cheritt, 248-858-4926
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Jany Lee-Warren, 248-858-0451
Account Specialist: Christina Viviano, 248-452-9214
Support Specialist: Amie Carlone, 248-975-4449
Medical Support Specialist: James Krebs, 248-858-1002
Interstate Support Specialist: Jessica Cheney, 248-858-5509
Referee: Ryan O’Neil, 248-452-2042 – Hearing room #12
Case Assistant: Randa Griffith, 248-452-2042
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Tara Gardocki, 248-452-2089
Accountant Specialist: Vicki Mouthaan, 248-858-0381
Support Specialist: Dana Redoutey, 248-452-9264
Medical Support Specialist: Tami Hanser, 248-858-0312
Interstate Support Specialist: Faye Catenacci, 248-858-1755
Divorce Court Judge Victoria A. Valentine:
Referee: Sahera Housey, 248-858-5423 – FOC Hearing room #10
Case Assistant: Dana Kennedy, 248-858-5423
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Jane McCarron, 248-452-9213
Account Specialist: Christina Viviano, 248-452-9214
Support Specialist: Jeanne Gonek, 248-452-9211
Medical Support Specialist: Tami Hanser, 248-858-0312
Interstate Support Specialist: Micah Malhiot, 248-452-9245
Referee: Alisa Martin, 248-858-0439 – FOC Hearing room #19
Case Assistant: Tara Perez, 248-858-0439
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Shelley Wine, 248-858-5560
Account Specialist: Michelle Johnson, 248-858-0472
Support Specialist: Amanda Tesolin, 248-858-5113
Medical Support Specialist: Tami Hanser, 248-858-0312
Interstate Support Specialist: Jessica Cheney, 248-858-5509
Referee: Traci Rink, 248-452-2046 – FOC Hearing room #15
Case Assistant: Michele Balde-Book, 248-452-2046
Custody & Parenting Time Specialist: Jody LaMacchia, 248-858-0135
Account Specialist: Scott Zabel, 248-858-0471
Support Specialist: Andi Bayer, 248-452-2114
Medical Support Specialist: Diane Grabar, 248-858-0528
Interstate Support Specialist: Micah Malhiot, 248-452-9245
By: Daniel Findling
Phone:+1 (248) 399-3300
After hours emergency?+1 (707) 968-7347
Email:Daniel@Findlinglaw.comDISCOVER MORE
I have been exclusively practicing divorce and family law in Michigan for over two decades. The Oakland County Divorce attorneys at Findling Law practice statewide. We share the core value of practicing law to help people navigate change in their lives, without compromising principles. We specialize in high socio-economic, high-profile and high-conflict cases, while also working with clients of all backgrounds. We recognize that the most important aspect of the practice of law is the application of the law to your specific circumstances.That is why we provide more free information on divorce and family law than any other Michigan law firm. We want to help you manage your situation. Allow our exceptional legal team to help you navigate the change in your life, without compromising principles.
By: Daniel Findling