Divorce in Michigan

How to file for divorce in Michigan

1. Check residency. 180 days (6 months) in Michigan and at least 10 days in the filing county before filing.
2. Prepare and file the Complaint for Divorce with the Circuit Court (Family Division) in your county. The filing fee is typically $175 to $255, and you can ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an acceptance of service, and file proof of service.
4. Exchange financial disclosures. Both spouses must exchange a Domestic Relations Verified Financial Information Form (CC 320) within 28 days.
5. Settle the issues in a written agreement, and a parenting plan if you have children.
6. Wait out the waiting period. 60 days from filing if there are no minor children; 180 days if minor children are involved, though a judge can reduce this to 60 days for compelling hardship. Then ask the court for your final judgment.

Residency and grounds

Residency: 180 days (6 months) in Michigan and at least 10 days in the filing county before filing.

Grounds: No-fault only. You do not need to prove anyone did anything wrong.

Separation: Not required; you can file while still living with your spouse.

How property is divided

Michigan uses equitable distribution. Marital property and debts are divided fairly, which often lands near equal but not always. Courts weigh things like the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and contributions as a homemaker. Read how property is divided.

Custody and child support

Parenting terms: Michigan uses the terms legal custody and physical custody. Every decision is made in the child's best interests.

Parenting class: Not detailed as a uniform statewide statutory requirement; varies by circuit.

Child support: Michigan uses the income shares model, which combines both parents' incomes, estimates what parents at that income usually spend on children, and divides that amount by each parent's share of income. Try the child support calculator.

Spousal support

Michigan spousal support is not automatic; courts award it only when property division alone would not provide suitable support to the requesting spouse.

Estimate a range with the spousal support calculator, then have a lawyer check it if the numbers are large.

Faster and simpler options

Joint filing without traditional service of process: Available when both spouses agree to file together, letting them skip formal service of process, though the standard 60 or 180 day waiting period still applies.

Legal separation: available in Michigan, for couples who want support and parenting orders without ending the marriage.

How long it takes

The minimum is set by the waiting period: 60 days from filing if there are no minor children; 180 days if minor children are involved, though a judge can reduce this to 60 days for compelling hardship. A typical timeline is 60 to 90 days without minor children; a minimum of 180 days when minor children are involved. Agreement is what moves the date most; contested cases add months of disclosures, discovery and hearings.

Worth knowing in Michigan

• Legal separation in Michigan is called 'separate maintenance'; the couple stays legally married while property and support are resolved.
• Michigan's Child Support Formula (MCSF) combines both parents' net incomes with a parenting-time offset.
• Joint custody is strongly favored by Michigan courts when both parents are fit.

Some local details vary by county in Michigan, including parenting course. Check with your county clerk.

Official resources

Official forms and instructions come from Michigan's courts. Sources we reviewed:

• courts.michigan.gov

Last reviewed September 2026. Laws and fees change; confirm with your court before you file.