Michigan’s 2025 child support changes were quiet on paper—but loud in their impact. Medical expenses and childcare costs now shift more financial responsibility between parents, often in ways that surprise people who assume their existing orders already “account for that.”

A year later, many parents are still operating under outdated assumptions. Some are absorbing costs they no longer must. Others are shocked to learn they now owe more than before. The problem isn’t the math—it’s misunderstanding how and when the new formula actually applies.

At Boroja, Bernier & Associates, we help Michigan parents navigate child support issues—whether you’re seeking a modification, responding to one, or trying to understand what the current formula means for your family. This guide explains exactly what changed, how it might affect you, and when it makes sense to request a review.

How Michigan Calculates Child Support: A Quick Overview

Michigan’s child support formula is mandatory—but not self-executing. Changes to the formula do not automatically update existing orders. Until a court or the Friend of the Court modifies an order, the old number controls, even if it no longer reflects current standards or expenses.

Before diving into the 2025 changes, it helps to understand Michigan’s overall approach. The state uses an income shares model under MCL 552.605, meaning both parents contribute to child-rearing costs proportionally based on their incomes.

The Michigan Child Support Formula considers several key factors:

• Both parents’ incomes form the foundation. This includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, and other earnings. Courts may also impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

• The number of children requiring support affects the base calculation. More children generally means higher total support, though not proportionally—the per-child amount decreases slightly with each additional child.

• Parenting time overnights directly impact calculations. The parent with fewer overnights typically pays support to the parent with more overnights. As parenting time approaches 50/50, the support amount often decreases.

• Childcare expenses for work or education are added to the base support amount and divided between parents proportionally.

• Healthcare costs including insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses are allocated between parents based on their income shares.

The formula produces a recommended support amount, though courts can deviate when circumstances justify it. Understanding this framework helps you see why the 2025 changes matter—and why so many parents are still getting them wrong.

The New $200 Ordinary Medical Expense Threshold

The most common mistake parents make with the $200 medical threshold is assuming reimbursement happens automatically. It doesn’t. The lower threshold only matters if expenses are documented, categorized correctly, and pursued through the proper process. Parents who fail to track expenses or formally request allocation often absorb costs the other parent should be sharing.

One of the most significant 2025 changes involves how ordinary medical expenses are handled. Previously, the first $454 per child per year in uninsured medical expenses was considered “ordinary” and built into base support. The paying parent wasn’t required to contribute separately to these costs.

Under the 2025 formula, that threshold dropped to $200 per child per year.

This means more medical expenses now qualify for separate reimbursement between parents. Here’s how it works in practice:

• Under the old formula, if your child had $400 in uninsured medical expenses annually, those costs were considered ordinary. The custodial parent absorbed them as part of the base support calculation, with no separate reimbursement required.

• Under the current formula, only the first $200 is ordinary. The remaining $200 becomes an “extraordinary” medical expense that both parents share proportionally based on income.

• Why this matters: For families with children who have regular medical needs—prescriptions, glasses, dental work, therapy appointments—this change can mean hundreds of additional dollars annually that the non-custodial parent must now help cover.

Courts and the Friend of the Court do not reimburse estimates, screenshots, or vague summaries. Receipts, explanation of benefits (EOBs), and proof of payment matter. Parents who fail to document medical costs precisely often lose reimbursement—not because the expense was improper, but because it was unproven.

What qualifies as medical expenses includes:

• Doctor visit copays and deductibles
• Prescription medications
• Dental care not covered by insurance
• Vision care including glasses and contacts
• Mental health services
• Orthodontia
• Other healthcare costs not covered by insurance

Parents should keep receipts and documentation for all medical expenses exceeding the $200 threshold to ensure proper reimbursement.

Childcare Expenses Now Covered Until Age 13

The second major 2025 change extends the age limit for childcare expenses included in support calculations.

Previously, childcare costs were included in the formula until a child turned 12. Now, childcare expenses count until the month a child turns 13.

This one-year extension recognizes that many families still need childcare or supervised after-school care for 12-year-olds. Not every preteen is ready to stay home alone, and summer childcare needs don’t disappear on a child’s 12th birthday.

The extension of childcare coverage to age 13 does not mean every expense qualifies. Childcare must still be work-related or education-related. Courts routinely deny allocation when parents cannot show that care was necessary to maintain employment or improve earning capacity.

Qualifying childcare expenses include:

• Daycare and after-school programs
• Summer camps and programs while parents work
• Before-school care
• Babysitting costs incurred due to work schedules

The childcare must be necessary for a parent to work or attend education or training that improves earning capacity. Childcare for social activities or personal time typically doesn’t qualify.

How childcare costs affect support: Childcare expenses are added to the base support calculation and divided between parents according to their proportional incomes. If Parent A earns 60% of combined parental income and Parent B earns 40%, they split childcare costs 60/40—regardless of who initially pays the provider.

For families with children between 12 and 13, this change could add significant dollars to the support calculation. Quality after-school programs and summer camps often cost several hundred dollars monthly.

How These Changes Affect Different Family Scenarios

The impact of the 2025 changes varies depending on your family’s circumstances. These examples illustrate how the new formula plays out in real life.

Scenario 1: Family with Moderate Medical Expenses

The Johnsons have two children with combined annual uninsured medical expenses of $800 (glasses for one child, regular prescriptions for the other).

• Under the old formula, $908 total ($454 × 2 children) would be ordinary, meaning no separate allocation.
• Under the current formula, only $400 ($200 × 2) is ordinary. The remaining $400 becomes extraordinary expense shared proportionally.
• If the non-custodial parent earns 55% of combined income, they’d now owe an additional $220 annually toward medical costs.

Scenario 2: Family with 12-Year-Old in After-School Care

The Martinez family has a 12-year-old who attends after-school care costing $600 monthly while both parents work.

• Under the old formula, this childcare expense wouldn’t be included since the child is 12.
• Under the current formula, the childcare counts until the child turns 13—potentially adding $7,200 annually to the support calculation.
• If the paying parent earns 50% of combined income, this change could increase their obligation by $3,600 annually until the child’s 13th birthday.

Scenario 3: High-Income Family with Significant Medical Needs

Higher-income families may see proportionally smaller impacts since base support already accounts for higher living standards. However, families with children who have chronic medical conditions or special healthcare needs will likely see meaningful changes from the reduced medical threshold.

Scenario 4: 50/50 Custody Arrangement

Even parents with equal parenting time exchange support when there’s an income disparity. The 2025 changes apply regardless of custody arrangement—medical and childcare expenses are still allocated proportionally based on income shares.

Equal parenting time does not eliminate child support obligations when incomes differ—and it does not eliminate shared responsibility for medical and childcare costs. Parents with 50/50 schedules often lose modification requests by assuming “equal time” means “equal costs,” which is not how the formula works.

When to Consider Requesting a Support Review

The 2025 formula changes don’t automatically modify existing orders. If you want your support calculation updated, you generally need to take action.

One of the most damaging assumptions is that formula updates retroactively fix unfair orders. They do not. Until a review or motion is filed, courts enforce the existing order—even if it is plainly outdated. Waiting often costs thousands of dollars that cannot be recovered.

Significant changes in income for either parent have always been grounds for modification under MCL 552.517. Combined with formula updates, income changes may produce substantially different support amounts.

Changes in parenting time affect the overnight count used in calculations. If your actual parenting schedule differs from what’s in the court order, an updated calculation may be warranted.

New medical or childcare expenses that didn’t exist when your order was entered may now qualify for allocation. The 2025 changes themselves can also constitute changed circumstances, particularly if the financial impact is substantial.

Even when the 2025 changes would clearly alter a support amount, modification still requires meeting Michigan’s threshold for change. Small but meaningful shifts—especially in medical expenses—may not qualify on their own. Successful modification strategies often bundle formula changes with income updates or parenting-time adjustments.

The Friend of the Court can conduct support reviews. You can request a review through your county’s FOC office, often without filing formal court motions. If the review shows a significant difference, the FOC may recommend modification.

Time limits matter. Child support modifications typically apply from the date of filing forward—you generally can’t recover past amounts that “should have been” different under MCL 552.603. If the 2025 changes benefit you and you haven’t acted yet, every month of delay is money you can’t get back.

Using Online Calculators vs. Consulting an Attorney

Michigan offers an online child support calculator through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. These tools can provide rough estimates, but they have limitations.

Online calculators work well for:

• Getting a general sense of whether your current order aligns with the formula
• Understanding how different income or overnight scenarios affect calculations
• Preliminary planning before requesting a formal review

Online calculators fall short when:

• Your income situation is complex (self-employment, variable income, multiple sources)
• You’re unsure what properly counts as income under Michigan law
• There are disputes about parenting time overnights
• Either parent has other support obligations affecting the calculation
• You need to argue for deviation from the formula

When an attorney adds value: Complex situations benefit from professional guidance. An experienced Michigan family law attorney can ensure income is calculated correctly, identify arguments for deviation when the formula produces unfair results, navigate the modification process efficiently, and address related issues like medical expense allocation and childcare verification.

For straightforward situations, a FOC review may be sufficient. For contested matters or complex finances, legal representation often saves money long-term by avoiding errors and ensuring complete, accurate calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2025 Michigan Child Support Changes

Do the 2025 changes automatically update my existing support order?

No. Existing child support orders don’t automatically change when the formula updates. You must request a review or modification to have your order recalculated under the current formula. Until then, your old order remains in effect. The Friend of the Court or the court itself must formally modify your order for changes to take effect.

How do I request a child support review in Michigan?

Contact your county’s Friend of the Court office to request a support review. You can typically do this by phone, mail, or through the FOC’s online portal if available. The FOC will gather updated income information from both parents and recalculate support using the current formula. If the review shows a significant difference, either parent can request modification.

Can I get back payments if my support should have been different?

Generally, no. Michigan child support modifications apply from the date of filing forward, not retroactively, under MCL 552.603. You typically cannot recover past amounts even if recalculation would have produced different numbers. This is why acting promptly matters—the sooner you request review, the sooner any adjustment takes effect.

What if the other parent won’t provide income information?

If a parent refuses to provide income information for a support calculation, the FOC or court can impute income based on available evidence. This might include past tax returns, employment records, vocational assessments, or minimum wage assumptions. Courts take a dim view of parents who hide income to manipulate support calculations.

Are there income limits for child support in Michigan?

Michigan’s formula calculates support based on actual combined parental income without a strict cap. However, at very high income levels, courts have discretion to deviate from formula recommendations when strict application would exceed the child’s reasonable needs. The formula is designed for typical income ranges, and high-income cases often require individualized analysis.

Why do parents with valid arguments still lose modification requests?

Good child support arguments often fail for procedural reasons. Medical expenses that weren’t properly documented, childcare costs that can’t be tied to work necessity, or the assumption that formula changes automatically update orders—these are common pitfalls. The law may be on your side, but courts enforce what’s proven, not what’s assumed.

Take the Next Step: Evaluate Whether Your Order Is Still Fair

Child support should reflect current circumstances and current formula standards. If the 2025 changes affect your family and you haven’t requested a review, your existing order may no longer represent fair contributions from both parents—and you may be leaving money on the table or paying more than required.

At Boroja, Bernier & Associates, we help Michigan parents understand their child support rights and obligations. Our family law attorneys can evaluate whether your current order aligns with the updated formula and guide you through the modification process if changes are warranted. With offices in Shelby Township, Troy, Ann Arbor, and Lansing, we serve families throughout Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County, and Southeast Michigan.

To schedule a consultation with the Michigan family law attorneys at Boroja, Bernier & Associates, call our law offices at (586) 991-7611. We’ll help you understand how the 2025 child support changes affect your situation and what steps make sense for your family.