Can Police Enforce a Michigan Parenting Time Order?
It’s one of the most common questions parents ask—often while sitting in a parking lot waiting for an exchange that isn’t happening:
“Can I call the police if the other parent won’t show up or won’t give me the kids?”
The short answer in Michigan is: usually no.
But the full answer—and what you should do instead—matters a lot.
Why Police Usually Don’t Enforce Parenting Time Orders
Parenting time orders are civil court orders, not criminal ones. Police officers generally do not have the authority to enforce civil parenting time disputes the way they enforce criminal laws.
In most Michigan cases, police will tell you:
“This is a civil matter.”
“You need to go back to court.”
“We can’t force the exchange.”
Even if you have a valid court order in hand, police are typically reluctant to physically remove a child or force a parent to comply unless specific circumstances exist.
When Police May Get Involved
While police usually won’t enforce parenting time, there are limited situations where they can or should intervene:
1. Child Abduction or Custodial Interference
If a parent:
Takes a child and refuses to return them for an extended period
Hides the child
Flees the area
Violates a clear custody order in an extreme way
Police involvement may be appropriate, especially if the conduct rises to custodial interference under Michigan law.
2. Immediate Safety Concerns
Police will act if there is:
Threats of violence
Domestic violence
A parent who appears intoxicated
A child in immediate danger
In these cases, police are responding to safety, not enforcing parenting time.
3. Court Orders That Specifically Involve Law Enforcement
Some court orders explicitly authorize law enforcement assistance for:
Exchanges
Retrieval of the child
Supervised parenting time
These orders are uncommon and usually issued only after repeated violations or serious risk.
What Police Will Often Do (and Why That Still Matters)
Even when police won’t enforce parenting time, calling them can still serve a purpose.
Police may:
Perform a well-check
Create an incident report
Document that you were present, and the other parent refused the exchange
That documentation can be extremely valuable later in court.
What Parents Get Wrong
Parents often make mistakes that hurt their case more than the missed exchange itself.
Common mistakes:
Repeatedly calling police for routine disputes
Expecting officers to “force” compliance
Escalating the situation in front of the child
Leaving angry voicemails or texts afterward
Retaliating by withholding future parenting time
Judges care deeply about how parents handle conflict. Overreacting or escalating can make you look unreasonable—even if the other parent was wrong.
What You Should Do Instead
If the other parent refuses to comply with parenting time, the most effective steps usually are:
1. Document Everything
Date, time, and location of the missed exchange
Messages or lack of response
Any police reports or well-check numbers
Stick to facts, not emotion.
2. Stay Calm at the Exchange
Assume everything you do could later be described to a judge.
3. Do Not Withhold Makeup Time on Your Own
Unilateral retaliation often backfires.
4. File the Right Motion
Depending on the situation, this may include:
Motion to Enforce Parenting Time
Motion for Makeup Parenting Time
Motion to Modify Parenting Time
Motion for Supervised Exchanges
Motion to Show Cause (contempt)
Courts in Bay County, Midland County, Saginaw County, and Mid-Michigan expect parents to resolve enforcement issues through the legal process—not police intervention.
Why Judges Prefer Court Enforcement Over Police Involvement
Michigan courts want:
Predictability
Stability
Minimal conflict
Reduced involvement of children in adult disputes
Using the court process creates a record, allows both sides to be heard, and gives the judge tools to prevent future problems—something police simply can’t do.
Bottom Line
Police usually cannot enforce Michigan parenting time orders—but calling them can still create helpful documentation in certain situations.
If parenting time violations are happening repeatedly, the solution isn’t more police calls. It’s strategic court action.
If you’re dealing with missed exchanges, refusals, or escalating conflict, getting legal guidance early can prevent a small issue from turning into a serious custody problem.
Get Help From Triton Legal
Triton Legal helps parents enforce parenting time orders and address violations the right way—without making mistakes that damage their case.
Triton Legal PLC
Serving Bay County, Midland County, Saginaw County, and the surrounding Mid-Michigan area
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