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 reclaim/adoption from the Shelter? [Animal Control]
5. Dog Licenses: How, Where and When to get a dog license? [Animal Control]
6. What does it cost to adopt an animal from the Shelter? [Animal Control]
7. What is the health status of the dogs at the Shelter? [Animal Control]
8. How long is a dog kept at the Shelter? [Animal Control]
9. What do I do if an animal bites me? [Animal Control]
10. What do I do if a dog shows up at my house that doesn't belong to anyone in the neighborhood? [Animal Control]
11. Frequently Asked Questions: [Building Department]
12. What do I wear to Court? [Circuit Court]
13. Can I get excused from jury duty? [Circuit Court]
14. When is motion day? [Circuit Court]
15. Where do I find the link to the Michigan Local Government Benchmarking Consortium? [Commissioners]
16. What Liaison Assignments does each Commissioner have?
    [Commissioners]
17. What are the Board of Commissioner Committees? [Commissioners]
18. Death Record Search [County Clerk]
19. DBA Name Search [County Clerk]
20. How do I contact the City, Village & Townships Board? [County Clerk]
21. How Do I Contact my Local Clerk? [County Clerk]
22. How do I find out about Doing Business As (DBA Informatin) [County Clerk]
23. How do I apply for a Marriage License? [County Clerk]
24. Where do I get a copy of my Birth Certificate? [County Clerk]
25. Where do I go to vote? [County Clerk]
26. Past Election Results - Aug. 1996 to May 2010 [County Clerk]
27. I only stay at the lake in the summer. Do I have to pay when I am not there? [Dept. of Public Works]
28. I am constructing a new building across the road from my house. Can I use my existing house connection? [Dept. of Public Works]
29. My red light is flashing on my grinder pump, who should I call? [Dept. of Public Works]
30. 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]
31. Can I pay my quarterly bill electronically? [Dept. of Public Works]
32. Can I pay my bill for the whole year? [Dept. of Public Works]
33. How can I pay my bill? [Dept. of Public Works]
34. Pay Traffic Ticket [District Court 3-A]
35. How much is my traffic fine? Will there be Points assessed? [District Court 3-A]
36. What is a Civil Infraction? [District Court 3-A]
37. Can I have the fine waived? [District Court 3-A]
38. What is a Misdemeanor? [District Court 3-A]
39. What is Small Claims Court? [District Court 3-A]
40. What should I know about landlord-tenant disputes? [District Court 3-A]
41. Definitions for some court-related phrases [District Court 3-A]
42. What do I wear to Court? [District Court 3-A]
43. Is the drain in front of my house next to the road a county drain? [Drain Commissioner]
44. How do I know if the ditch on my property is a County Drain or a private ditch? [Drain Commissioner]
45. I have standing water in my yard. Should I call the Drain Commissioner? [Drain Commissioner]
46. How can I have my County Drain cleaned? [Drain Commissioner]
47. Does the Drain Commission office determine wetlands? [Drain Commissioner]
48. Can your office help with my well and septic? [Drain Commissioner]
49. Can my neighbor drain his/her water onto my property? [Drain Commissioner]
50. What are some other websites I might find of interest [Drain Commissioner]
51. Branch County Parcel Data Search [Equalization]
52. State Wide Search For Subdivision-Plat Maps. [Equalization]
53. Where do I find property information and values? [Equalization]
54. How do I add or remove a bank as the taxpayer of my property? [Equalization]
55. Who do I contact for a new address assignment? [Equalization]
56. How can I estimate my property taxes? [Equalization]
57. Who do I contact about zoning in my area? [Equalization]
58. Where do I find property information and property values? [Equalization]
59. How do I contact my township assessor? [Equalization]
60. What should I do if a Friend of the Court bench warrant is issued for my arrest? [Friend of the Court]
61. How do I get information about my Friend of the Court child support account? [Friend of the Court]
62. What is the S.M.I.L.E. Program? [Friend of the Court]
63. What are the next dates for the S.M.I.L.E. Program and where is the program held? [Friend of the Court]
64. What if a felony nonsupport warrant is issued? [Friend of the Court]
65. Who is my Friend of the Court caseworker? [Friend of the Court]
66. What if I have information about the person for whom a bench warrant or felony nonsupport case has been filed? [Friend of the Court]
67. How do I get an Order for child support? [Friend of the Court]
68. How will I receive my support payments if they are to be made through the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU)? [Friend of the Court]
69. 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]
70. If my child is over 18 but still in school, can I continue to get child support? [Friend of the Court]
71. Do I get child support if I am receiving public assistance (TANF or FIP)? [Friend of the Court]
72. What do I do if the other parent is not paying support as ordered? [Friend of the Court]
73. 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]
74. How can I make online payments, obtain direct deposit forms, PIN change forms, or obtain a temporary coupon to make a payment? [Friend of the Court]
75. Can I stop paying support if the other party is not allowing my parenting time? [Friend of the Court]
76. Friend of the Court Staff [Friend of the Court]
77. What are the next dates for the S.M.I.L.E. Program and where is the program held? [Friend of the Court]
78. Can I ask the FOC for help in getting reimbursement of health care costs from the other party? [Friend of the Court]
79. What will the FOC do to collect the medical reimbursement? [Friend of the Court]
80. If my court order was entered after October 1, 2004, does that affect how medical costs are determined? [Friend of the Court]
81. Is there a person who is specifically assigned to help me with medical expense reimbursement problems or questions? [Friend of the Court]
82. Can the Friend of the Court make the other party give an accounting of how support money is spent? [Friend of the Court]
83. 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]
84. Why doesn't the Friend of the Court investigate alleged abuse and/or neglect of my children? [Friend of the Court]
85. 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]
86. How do I get the money that was taken from my Federal tax refund applied to my account? [Friend of the Court]
87. Can "held" Federal tax refunds be released before the 6 month waiting period is done? [Friend of the Court]
88. 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]
89. 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]
90. At what age can a child decide with which parent he/she will live? [Friend of the Court]
91. 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]
92. If my minor child is adopted, marries, or enters the military service, what happens to my child support order? [Friend of the Court]
93. Why won't the FOC enforce property settlement provisions in my judgment of divorce? [Friend of the Court]
94. 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]
95. Does Branch County have GIS data available online? [GIS - Geographic Information Systems]
96. How do I get a new address? [GIS - Geographic Information Systems]
97. Why does my address plot incorrectly in MapQuest, Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, etc.? [GIS - Geographic Information Systems]
98. What Brownfield sites are available? [General]
99. How do I become a CASA volunteer? [General]
100. Traffic Ticket Payment Link [General]
101. What is Victim Assistance? [Prosecuting Attorney]
102. Recording Requirements [Register of Deeds]
103. Copy, Search, Certification, Fax & Email Fees [Register of Deeds]
104. Subscribe for remote access for documents from the Register of Deeds. [Register of Deeds]
105. Single search for a document from the Register of Deeds office. [Register of Deeds]
106. Are all documents available online? [Register of Deeds]
107. MARD - Michigan Association Register of Deeds
     [Register of Deeds]
108. How do I get a copy of an accident report? [Sheriff's Office]
109. Where is the Jail? [Sheriff's Office]
110. What taxes are payable to the County Treasurer? [Treasurer's Office]
111. Who do I call to get the amount of my current property taxes? [Treasurer's Office]
112. How much does a dog license cost? [Treasurer's Office]
113. Who needs to have a dog license? [Treasurer's Office]
114. What is the number to the Veterans Administration? [Veteran Affairs]