Common Solutions and Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I find a Department Phone List? [Administration]
2. Where is the Courthouse located? [Administration]
3. How do I contact Animal Control? [Animal Control]
4. What animals are available for adoption from the shelter? [Animal Control]
5. What does it cost to adopt an animal from the shelter? [Animal Control]
6. Frequently Asked Questions: [Building Department]
7. What do I wear to Court? [Circuit Court]
8. When is motion day? [Circuit Court]
9. Can I get excused from jury duty? [Circuit Court]
10. What Liaison Assignments does each Commissioner have?
    [Commissioners]
11. What are the Board of Commissioner Committees? [Commissioners]
12. Death Record Search [County Clerk]
13. DBA Name Search [County Clerk]
14. How do I contact the City, Village & Townships Board? [County Clerk]
15. DBA's Information & forms [County Clerk]
16. Where do I get a copy of my Birth Certificate? [County Clerk]
17. How Do I Contact my Local Clerk? [County Clerk]
18. Where do I go to vote for elections? [County Clerk]
19. Past Election Results [County Clerk]
20. I only stay at the lake in the summer. Do I have to pay when I am not there? [Dept. of Public Works]
21. I am constructing a new building across the road from my house. Can I use my existing house connection? [Dept. of Public Works]
22. My red light is flashing on my grinder pump, who should I call? [Dept. of Public Works]
23. I want to build a new home on a lot that doesn't have a tap. Is it possible for me to build on this lot? [Dept. of Public Works]
24. Can I pay my quarterly bill electronically? [Dept. of Public Works]
25. Can I pay my bill for the whole year? [Dept. of Public Works]
26. How can I pay my bill? [Dept. of Public Works]
27. Pay Traffic Ticket [District Court 3-A]
28. How much is my traffic fine? Will there be Points assessed? [District Court 3-A]
29. What is a Civil Infraction? [District Court 3-A]
30. Can I have the fine waived? [District Court 3-A]
31. What is a Misdemeanor? [District Court 3-A]
32. What is Small Claims Court? [District Court 3-A]
33. What should I know about landlord-tenant disputes? [District Court 3-A]
34. Definitions for some court-related phrases [District Court 3-A]
35. What do I wear to Court? [District Court 3-A]
36. Is the drain in front of my house next to the road a county drain? [Drain Commissioner]
37. How do I know if the ditch on my property is a County Drain or a private ditch? [Drain Commissioner]
38. I have standing water in my yard. Should I call the Drain Commissioner? [Drain Commissioner]
39. How can I have my County Drain cleaned? [Drain Commissioner]
40. Does the Drain Commission office determine wetlands? [Drain Commissioner]
41. Can your office help with my well and septic? [Drain Commissioner]
42. Can my neighbor drain his/her water onto my property? [Drain Commissioner]
43. What are some other websites I might find of interest [Drain Commissioner]
44. Branch County Parcel Data Search [Equalization]
45. State Wide Search For Subdivision-Plat Maps. [Equalization]
46. How do I add or remove a bank as the taxpayer of my property? [Equalization]
47. Who do I contact for a new address assignment? [Equalization]
48. How do I contact my township assessor? [Equalization]
49. How can I estimate my property taxes? [Equalization]
50. Who do I contact about zoning in my area? [Equalization]
51. What should I do if a Friend of the Court bench warrant is issued for my arrest? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
52. What if a felony nonsupport warrant is issued? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
53. What if I have information about the person for whom a bench warrant or felony nonsupport case has been filed? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
54. How do I get an Order for child support? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
55. How will I receive my support payments if they are to be made through the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU)? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
56. What if I pay the other party directly but my court order says that I must pay through the Friend of the Court or the Michigan State Disbursement Unit? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
57. If my child is over 18 but still in school, can I continue to get child support? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
58. Do I get child support if I am receiving public assistance (TANF or FIP)? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
59. What do I do if the other parent is not paying support as ordered? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
60. Can I stop paying support if the other party is not allowing my parenting time? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
61. What if I can't pay all of my arrears but want to make alternate arrangements to pay with the court? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
62. Can I ask the FOC for help in getting reimbursement of health care costs from the other party? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
63. What will the FOC do to collect the medical reimbursement? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
64. If my court order was entered after October 1, 2004, does that affect how medical costs are determined? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
65. Is there a person who is specifically assigned to help me with medical expense reimbursement problems or questions? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
66. Can the Friend of the Court make the other party give an accounting of how support money is spent? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
67. If it appears that the other parent has been drinking or using drugs, do I have to let the children go for parenting time? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
68. Why doesn't the Friend of the Court investigate alleged abuse and/or neglect of my children? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
69. I got a notice that the Friend of the Court intercepted my Federal tax refund. However, when I check my account, it does not show that the money has been applied. Why? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
70. How do I get the money that was taken from my Federal tax refund applied to my account? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
71. Can "held" Federal tax refunds be released before the 6 month waiting period is done? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
72. How do I get information about my account? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
73. What happens if I have an order of custody and the other parent does not return the child to me as stated in that order? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
74. Why won't the FOC enforce what the judge said in court, even if it's not in the written order? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
75. At what age can a child decide with which parent he/she will live? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
76. Do I have a right to see my child's school, medical, and other records if my child lives with the other parent? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
77. If my minor child is adopted, marries, or enters the military service, what happens to my child support order? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
78. Why won't the FOC enforce property settlement provisions in my judgment of divorce? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
79. What do I need to do if I want to move or change the domicile of the children to another state or move over 100 miles away? [Friend of the Court (FOC)]
80. Does Branch County have GIS data available online? [GIS - Geographic Information Systems]
81. How do I get a new address? [GIS - Geographic Information Systems]
82. What is Victim Assistance? [Prosecuting Attorney]
83. Recording Requirements [Register of Deeds]
84. Copy, Search, Certification, Fax & Email Fees [Register of Deeds]
85. How can I subscribe for remote access for Register of Deeds? [Register of Deeds]
86. How can I do a single search for a document in the Register of Deeds office? [Register of Deeds]
87. Are all documents available online? [Register of Deeds]
88. MARD - Michigan Association Register of Deeds
    [Register of Deeds]
89. Where is the Jail? [Sheriff's Office]
90. How do I get a copy of an accident report? [Sheriff's Office]
91. What taxes are payable to the County Treasurer? [Treasurer's Office]
92. Who do I call to get the amount of my current property taxes? [Treasurer's Office]
93. How much does a dog license cost? [Treasurer's Office]
94. Who needs to have a dog license? [Treasurer's Office]
95. What is the number to the Veterans Administration? [Veteran Affairs]