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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Summary
32% of respondents did not, or believed that they did not, meet with a mediator
(MCL 552.513)
42% of respondents meeting with a mediator who was an employee of the FOC
felt that he or she also provided other domestic relations services (MCL
552.515)
78% of respondents who met with a mediator were not aware prior to the
meeting that it was voluntary (MCL 552.515)
82% of respondents who met with a mediator felt that he or she did not act with
"honesty, integrity, and impartiality"
85% of respondents who met with a mediator felt that he or she was not a
neutral third party. (MCR 3.216)
89% of respondents who met with a mediator felt that he or she did not facilitate
communication between parties to promote settlement (MCR 3.216)
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
I don't know whether the mediator was an employee of the Friend of the Court
or not 6
Our mediator was an employee of the Friend of the Court and I am not aware of
why a contractor was not used 15
We did not meet with a mediator 16
Our mediator was an employee of the Friend of the Court, but mediation by
contract is not cost effective in our area 2
Our mediator was a contractor 7
Our mediator was an employee of the Friend of the Court, but private mediation
is not available in our area 5
Sum 51
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
If the mediator is an employee of the friend of the court, did you feel that
the mediator did also "perform referee functions, investigation and
recommendation functions, or enforcement functions as to any domestic
relations matter involving that party"? (Friend of the Court Act Section
15) Responses
No 19
We did not meet with a mediator 18
Yes 14
Sum 51
No
We did not
meet with a
mediator
Yes
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did you feel before beginning mediation that you could voluntarily refuse
mediation? (Friend of the Court Act Section 13, Paragraph 1) Responses
No 25
We did not meet with a mediator 18
Yes 8
Sum 51
No
We did not
m eet with a
m ediator
Yes
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did the mediator act with "honesty, integrity, and impartiality?" Responses
No 27
We did not meet with a mediator 18
Yes 6
Sum 51
No
We did not
meet with a
mediator
Yes
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did you feel that the mediator was "a neutral third party"? (Michigan
Court Rule 3.216) Responses
No 28
We did not meet with a mediator 18
Yes 5
Sum 51
No
We did not
m eet with a
m ediator
Yes
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
No 33
We did not meet with a mediator 14
Yes 4
Sum 51
No
We did not
m eet with a
m ediator
Yes
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
How did your custody evaluator (aka Family Counselor aka Conciliator)
recommend custody be handled in your case? Responses
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
How did your custody evaluator (aka Family Counselor aka Conciliator)
recommend custody be handled in your case?
Other:
Did not come up but she told me that if it does, she will recommend physical
custody to the mom.
foc conducted a conciliation hearing, mother physical joint legal
i never had any knowledge period of any kind of arraingments until all was said
and done
joint legal and physical but father still limited visitation
majority physical custody to mother
recommended PAS counseling
We did not have an evaluator" but the Dept. of Human Services recomended the
children be "placed" with us
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did your referee "Make a written, signed report to the court containing a
summary of testimony given, a statement of findings, and a recommended
order; or make a statement of findings on the record and submit a
recommended order." (MCL 522.507 Section 7 (2) (c)) ? Responses
Referee Report ?
T he referee m ade a
report including a
different custody
recom mendation
than that recom-
mended by the cus-
tody evaluator
other
T he referee m ade no
report
Yes, and the report
was substantially
identical to the one
generated by the
custody evaluator
Yes, the referee
made an inde-
pendent report
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did your referee "Make a written, signed report to the court containing a
summary of testimony given, a statement of findings, and a recommended
order; or make a statement of findings on the record and submit a
recommended order." (MCL 522.507 Section 7 (2) (c)) ?
Other:
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did you ask the judge for a de novo hearing? If so, how was the de novo
review conducted and what was the outcome of that review review? (MCL
522.507 Section 7 (4)) ? Responses
I made no request 33
The judge conducted a de novo review and came to the same conclusion
without holding a hearing 3
The judge conducted a de novo review with a hearing and came to the same
conclusion 1
other 14
The judge conducted a de novo review and came to a different conclusion
without holding a hearing 0
The judge conducted a de novo review with a hearing and came to the a
different conclusion 0
Sum 51
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
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Michigan Child Custody Survey Results
Did you ask the judge for a de novo hearing? If so, how was the de novo
review conducted and what was the outcome of that review review? (MCL
522.507 Section 7 (4)) ?
Other:
Judge held a half hearted review and left in the middle of the trial when we were
presenting my case with still 3 more hours left to present the case as per his
own trial schedule. Judge rubber stamped custody evaluators recommendation
even though evidence pointed out that the evaluator was committing fraud by
hiding information about children being beaten by the mother
Judge terminated my parental rights so as to allow my ex-wife to move to
Arizona.
Made no request. I was clueless at the time and my attorney pressured me to
settle.
Not sure what this is.
Original order was slightly modified.
the judge called the next case
The Judge frequently rubber stamped without consideration the foc
recommendations throughout the case.
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