NOTE: For Friend of the Court (FOC) related inquiries, please visit the Friend of the Court website or call 1-877-543-2660 (enter code #255).

Welcome to the 48th Circuit Court Family Division. The Family Division of the Circuit Court (Family Court) was created by Public Act 388 of 1996 (MCL 600.1001), which transferred jurisdiction over matters involving juveniles from the Probate Court to the Circuit Court. The Family Court operates under the cooperation of both probate and circuit judges. Family Court jurisdiction is granted pursuant to MCL 712A.2 over proceedings involving juvenile delinquency and child protection. In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck.

Services

The Circuit Court Family Division provides the following services:

• Delinquency Proceedings
  • Casework services -- Community Probation and Juvenile Diversion
• Protective Proceedings
• Guardianship of minors who are already under Family Court jurisdiction
• Adoptions
• Emancipation of minors
• Name changes
• Parental consent waivers

Location

The Family Court is located on the lower level of the Allegan County Courthouse, 113 Chestnut St., Allegan, Michigan 49010. View directions to the Family Court.

Hours

The Family Court is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may contact the Family Court Clerk's Office by telephone at (269) 673-0534 or by fax at (269) 673-0466.

Court Holidays

• The Court will be closed on the following holidays:
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• President's Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth 
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day After Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year's Eve

Family Division Resources