Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.161 (2026)

Desertion, abandonment, or refusal or neglect to provide shelter, food, care, and clothing; felony; penalty; bond; probation; failure to comply with conditions in bond; forfeiture of bond; disposition of sums received; continuing offense; proof.

✓ current as of July 2026

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THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE

Act 328 of 1931

750.161 Desertion, abandonment, or refusal or neglect to provide shelter, food, care, and clothing; felony; penalty; bond; probation; failure to comply with conditions in bond; forfeiture of bond; disposition of sums received; continuing offense; proof.

Sec. 161.

(1) A person who deserts and abandons his or her spouse or deserts and abandons his or her children under 17 years of age, without providing necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for them, and a person who being of sufficient ability fails, neglects, or refuses to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for his or her spouse or his or her children under 17 years of age, is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 3 months and not more than 1 year.

(2) If at any time before sentence the defendant enters into bond to the people of the state of Michigan in such penal sum for such term and with such surety or sureties as may be fixed by the court, conditioned that he or she will furnish his or her spouse and children with necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing, or will pay to the clerk of the court, or other designated person, such sums of money at such times as the court shall order to be used to provide food, shelter, and clothing for his or her spouse and children, or either of them, then the court may make an order placing the defendant in charge of a probation officer. The court may require that the defendant shall from time to time report to the probation officer as provided by law. The court may extend the period of probation from time to time or the court may defer sentence in the cause, but no term of any bond or any probation period shall exceed the maximum term of imprisonment as provided for in this section.

(3) Upon failure of the defendant to comply with any of the conditions contained in the bond, the defendant may be ordered to appear before the court and show cause why sentence should not be imposed, whereupon the court may pass sentence, or for good cause shown may modify the order and further defer sentence as may be just and proper. Whenever the whereabouts of the defendant is unknown, the court may summarily issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant.

(4) The court, upon default by the defendant to comply with the conditions of the bond and the orders of the court, shall notify the prosecuting attorney, who shall immediately file a petition in the court in which the cause is pending to declare the bond forfeited. A copy of the petition and a notice of hearing on the petition shall be served upon the surety or sureties, if any, named in the bond at least 4 days before the hearing of the petition. Upon holding a hearing on the petition, the court may declare the bond forfeited. When so ordered, the prosecuting attorney shall immediately institute the necessary action to collect the principal sum of the bond. If a cash bond has been filed, the cash bond shall be declared forfeited by the court.

(5) All sums received from bonds being forfeited shall be paid to the clerk of the court, who shall hold and disburse the money for the use of those entitled to the money in accordance with the orders of the court for their necessary food, care, shelter, and clothing.

(6) Desertion, abandonment, or refusal or neglect to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing as provided in this section shall be considered to be a continuing offense and may be so set out in any complaint or information. Proof of the offense charged at any time during the period alleged in the complaint or information shall be considered proof of a violation of this section.

History: 1931, Act 328, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- Am. 1947, Act 142, Eff. Oct. 11, 1947 ;-- CL 1948, 750.161 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 277, Eff. Mar. 29, 1985

FormerLaw Notes:

See section 1 of Act 144 of 1907, being CL 1915, § 7789; CL 1929, § 12788; Act 114 of 1921; and Act 239 of 1923.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 23 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1949–2025 · leading case: People v. Monaco, 710 N.W.2d 46 (Mich. 2006).

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People v. Monaco, 710 N.W.2d 46 (Mich. 2006). · cites it 22× “165(1) is compared to MCL 750.161. In MCL 750.161(6), the Legislature expressly provided: Desertion, abandonment, or refusal or neglect to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing as provided in this section shall be considered to be a continuing offense…”

People of Michigan v. Selesa Arrosieur Likine, 492 Mich. 367 (Mich. 2012). · cites it 6× “MCL 750.161 criminalizes desertion or nonsupport of a spouse or children.”

Vansach v. Dep't of Health & Human Servs. (In re Est. of Vansach), 922 N.W.2d 136 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “See Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.) (defining ''need''). Further, the person claiming a need must be someone "entitled to the [incapacitated] individual's support.”

Nat'l Pride at Work, Inc v. Governor, 748 N.W.2d 524 (Mich. 2008). · cites it 2× “See MCL 750.161(1) ("[A] person who being of sufficient ability fails, neglects, or refuses to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for his or her spouse .”

People v. Wilcox, 781 N.W.2d 784 (Mich. 2010). · cites it 2× “13738(3) (providing a sentence of "not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years" for illegally disposing of toxic waste in a manner that constitutes "an extreme indifference for human life"); MCL 750.161(1) (providing a sentence of "not less than 1 year and not more than 3…”

Sword v. Sword, 249 N.W.2d 88 (Mich. 1976). · cites it 2× “A willful failure to pay child support can be a felony punishable up to three years in a state prison (MCLA 750.161; MSA 28.358) and, of course, a jury would be necessary.”

United States v. Timothy Gordon Faasse, 265 F.3d 475 (6th Cir. 2001). “See Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.161 (West 1991) (providing liability for refusing “to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for .”

People v. Adams, 683 N.W.2d 729 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). “For example, MCL 750.161 applies to a person who is “of such sufficient ability” but “fails, neglects, or refuses to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for his or her spouse or his or her children.”

People v. Law, 591 N.W.2d 20 (Mich. 1999). “1 MCL 750.161; MSA 28.358. 2 Under MCL 552.”

People v. Westman, 685 N.W.2d 423 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). “Defendant was previously convicted of felony failure to pay child support on January 14, 1980, and felony nonsupport, MCL 750.161, on July 19, 1993. There was evidence of defendant’s refusal or neglect to pay child support, in terms of his inability to pay, which was previously…”

People v. Westman, 685 N.W.2d 423 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). “NOTES [1] Defendant was previously convicted of felony failure to pay child support on January 14, 1980, and felony nonsupport, MCL 750.161, on July 19, 1993. [2] There was evidence of defendant's refusal or neglect to pay child support, in terms of his inability to pay, which…”

People v. Ditton, 261 N.W.2d 182 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977). “Defendant says the court had uncontroverted evidence of his inability to pay and should have ruled it a valid defense to the charges. The statute does not expressly provide for such a defense.”

Show all 23 citing cases →

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.161(1) — 6 cases

People v. Monaco, 710 N.W.2d 46 (Mich. 2006). “165(1) is compared to MCL 750.161. In MCL 750.161(6), the Legislature expressly provided: Desertion, abandonment, or refusal or neglect to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing as provided in this section shall be considered to be a continuing offense…”

People of Michigan v. Selesa Arrosieur Likine, 492 Mich. 367 (Mich. 2012). “MCL 750.161 criminalizes desertion or nonsupport of a spouse or children.”

Nat'l Pride at Work, Inc v. Governor, 748 N.W.2d 524 (Mich. 2008). “See MCL 750.161(1) ("[A] person who being of sufficient ability fails, neglects, or refuses to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for his or her spouse .”

People v. Wilcox, 781 N.W.2d 784 (Mich. 2010). “13738(3) (providing a sentence of "not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years" for illegally disposing of toxic waste in a manner that constitutes "an extreme indifference for human life"); MCL 750.161(1) (providing a sentence of "not less than 1 year and not more than 3…”

In Re Guardianship of Mc (Mich. Ct. App. 2023).

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.161(6) — 1 case

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