FOC Investigator

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Investigator to join our team at the Friend of the Court in Ottawa County, MI. As an Investigator, you will play a critical role in ensuring the fair and efficient administration of domestic relations cases.

• Investigate and analyze domestic relations cases to determine the need for legal action to establish, enforce, or modify orders for support.
• Prepare reports of facts and findings and present recommendations to the Court on custody and/or parenting time.
• Conduct home studies, as appropriate, and apply the child custody factors as set forth in the Child Custody Act.
• Initiate enforcement actions through show cause motions, notice of income withholding orders, orders to seize assets, and filing liens on bank accounts and real property.
• Conduct extensive investigations to identify true income and financial and real assets of delinquent payers, employing a variety of search engines and research tools.
• Present petitions, prepare evidence, and testify in court as necessary.
• Conduct pre-hearing conferences with clients and/or their attorneys to resolve contested issues and delinquent support payments through mediation.
• Prepare stipulated orders resulting from successful mediation for the court.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, sociology, legal studies, or other relevant field combined with two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in domestic relations case management, criminal justice, or court administration.
• Master's Degree in criminal justice, sociology, legal studies, or other relevant field strongly preferred.
• Thorough working knowledge of family and domestic relations law, including the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJEA), and other federal statutes pertaining to child support enforcement, child custody, and the rights of non-custodial parents.
• Excellent working knowledge of health insurance plans, health savings accounts, and business practices.
• Good working knowledge of internet search engines and databases and other research tools for identifying non-custodial parent sources of income and assets.
• Knowledge of public and private community resources available to clients.
• Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

The work is performed in a normal office environment and in the courtroom. Ottawa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position is benefited and is in the Friend of the Court bargaining unit.