Investigator/Alternative Dispute Resolution Facilitator

Eaton County•Charlotte, MI

33d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Friend of the Court and direct supervision of the Senior Investigator, this role conducts investigations and provides recommendations regarding custody, medical support, domicile, child support, and parenting time in pre-judgment and post-judgment cases. The position also responds to complaints concerning these issues and conducts Alternative Dispute Resolution conferences to help parents resolve disputes. The starting pay is dependent on relevant experience, and applications are accepted until a qualified candidate is identified, with the position potentially closing at any time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related area.
One year of casework experience, preferably dealing with family counseling and familiarity with domestic relations law.
To perform Facilitative and Information Gathering Conferences, must have two years of experience as a case worker working with families, or similar work as a court employee or in a related field.
Must attend in-service training as required by the State Court Administrative Office, including Domestic Relations Training or Friend of the Court Bureau ADR Training and a domestic violence training.
Required to complete 8 hours of continuing education every 2 years.

Responsibilities

Investigates and evaluates custody and parenting time arrangements for minor children in divorce and paternity actions, preparing reports and recommendations for the Circuit Court.
Conducts informal dispute resolution in custody and parenting time matters, aiming to develop communication channels between parents and educate them on the effects of divorce.
Conducts investigations on requests for changes in custody, parenting time, or related matters, which may involve meeting parties, visiting homes, inspecting facilities, and consulting with representatives from schools and other agencies.
Initiates enforcement actions against clients not in compliance with court orders, sending notices or preparing statements of facts for show cause hearings.
Serves as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Facilitator to assist in resolving disputes related to custody, domicile, parenting time, and child support.
Confers with divorcing parties to discuss Friend of the Court procedures and policies, answering questions and addressing issues related to domestic relations cases.
Investigates and makes recommendations on parenting time for non-custodial parents, grandparents, or third parties, considering the child's best interests.
Provides court testimony regarding findings and recommendations when requested.
Arranges for psychological evaluations of parents and children and consults with psychologists or counselors working with the family.
Drafts orders, stipulations, and other legal documents concerning custody, parenting time, support, medical coverage, and change of domicile.
Conducts financial investigations, including collecting financial data, assisting with financial affidavits, and contacting employers and agencies for financial information.
Analyzes financial data to determine a party's gross income, including reviewing tax statements, unemployment records, social security information, and worker’s compensation payments.
Utilizes established support guidelines to calculate and recommend child support amounts, including medical and other payments.
Makes recommendations to the Court regarding alimony.
May drive extended distances, including out of county, to conduct investigations.
May fulfill the job functions of Investigator/Parenting Time Specialist.
May conduct meetings in-person and virtually.