Legal Supports

Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) provides free legal advice and representation to low-income individuals, families, and older adults in Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Shiawassee, and Washtenaw Counties.

Battle Creek Office:

(Barry, Branch & Calhoun Counties)

123 W Territorial Rd.

Battle Creek, MI 49015

Phone: (269) 965-3951

Toll-free: 1-800-688-3951

Fax: (269) 965-4874

The Branch County Friend of the Court (FOC) works for the Circuit Court, with primary responsibilities for enforcement of the Court’s orders regarding custody, parenting time and the support of minor children.

The FOC also conducts hearings and investigations, and makes reports and recommendations to the Court on those matters. It offers mediation, as an alternative dispute resolution process, for custody and parenting time issues.

Michigan's Protective Services (CPS) program is responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect. The Michigan Child Protection Law provides the framework for what CPS must do.

Child Abuse: Harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy.

Child Neglect: Harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare that occurs through either of the following:

• Negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

• Placing a child at an unreasonable risk to the child's health or welfare by failure of the parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for the child's health or welfare to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, knowledge of the risk.