How to Start a Divorce
Residency Requirements Grounds for Divorce Same-sex divorce
Divorce Process
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Divorce without a lawyer
DIY-Divorce
Property Division
Division of Property
Divorce & Children
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Online Divorce
in Michigan

Divorce in Michigan is quick and easy
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Do you know the location of your spouse?
Can you and your spouse agree to the division of property, debts and all child related issues?

Divorce Online in Michigan

OnlineMichiganDivorce is a legit, fast, easy, and affordable web platform that helps divorcing couples prepare the necessary documents to dissolve their marriage.

The main benefits of online divorce include but are not limited to:
  • Online divorce packets are cheap. It is most often used to eliminate the added expense of hiring a lawyer.
  • Online divorce helps save time. Soon-to-be-ex-spouses have the opportunity to avoid lengthy delivery periods for paperwork and office visits to a lawyer.
  • Online divorce is very convenient. There is no need to schedule multiple unnecessary meetings with lawyers, as online divorce can be processed anytime in the comfort of your home.
  • Online divorce companies offer clear filing instructions. By following these instructions, spouses can avoid mistakes when filing necessary divorce forms.

To enjoy these benefits, you should check whether you qualify for online divorce and complete a simple marriage-related questionnaire on our website.

How to qualify for an online divorce?

Online divorce can only be initiated by couples seeking an uncontested divorce. In other words, to prepare divorce documents over the Internet, people should reach a mutual agreement on divorce-related terms, such as property division, spousal support, child custody, and so on. Otherwise, you will need to hire a well-experienced lawyer to protect your interest in court and ensure a fair outcome for all parties involved.

Compare Your Options for Filing for Divorce in Michigan

Divorce With a Lawyer

The traditional way of ending a marriage where people hire separate lawyers to resolve one or more divorce-related issues in their case.

  • Attorney's fees can be as high as $500 per hour, which is quite expensive;
  • The act of hiring a lawyer may inflame the situation between spouses;
  • Many lawyers don't have sufficient knowledge to handle divorce cases properly;
  • You become dependent on a lawyer's schedule.
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The premier uncontested divorce tool

Quick and easy way to prepare uncontested divorce forms that comply with local laws and requirements.

  • One-time payment with no hidden fees;
  • You can have the paperwork done in a matter of several business days;
  • Easy-to-navigate platform, available for all people seeking an amicable divorce;
  • State-specific filing instructions.
Start Now For $139

DIY divorce

Even though a "pure" DIY divorce is the cheapest way of ending a marriage, it is also the most complicated solution.

  • You may file paperwork incorrectly;
  • It could lead to an unfair outcome;
  • Handling everything on your own causes increased stress;
  • It can result in additional expenses.

What Forms Do I Need to File for Divorce in Michigan?

In Michigan, each divorce case requires a unique set of divorce forms, although the most commonly filed divorce papers in the state are as follows:
  • Summons and Complaint [MC-01 (3/06)]
  • Complaint for Divorce
  • Marital Settlement Agreement
  • Judgment or Divorce
  • Default Request, Affidavit, Entry and Judgment [MC-07A (5/07)]
  • Answer and Waiver
  • Request for Certificate of Military Service Status
  • Notice of Hearing [FOC-7 (10/04)]
  • Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Affidavit [MC-416 (5/07)]
  • Verified Statement and Application for IV-D Services [FOC-23 (9/06)]
  • Motion and Verification for Alternative Service [MC-303 (3/06)]
  • Order for Alternative Service [MC-304 (3/06)]
  • Order for Service by Publication/Posting and Notice of Action [MC-307 (8/88)]
  • Notice of Taking Records Deposition
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How to Fill Out Michigan Divorce Papers

To fill out divorce papers independently, residents of Michigan should follow several significant steps:

  1. Considering that each county requires a different set of divorce forms, contact the county clerk's office before filing to confirm what's required.
  2. Review each divorce document to determine what kind of information should be gathered.
  3. Collect marriage documents, including any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, the marriage license, and life insurance policies.
  4. Compile important financial documents related to assets, debts, retirement plans, tax returns, etc.
  5. Discuss all divorce issues with the partner one more time to ensure both parties have the same view of the marriage dissolution process.
  6. Answer every question on the divorce forms, following instructions.
  7. If a spouse doesn't understand some terms, they should do legal research.
  8. Proofread completed papers for any typos, errors, or inaccuracies. This step is extremely important, as improperly filled out forms will likely lead to case dismissal.
  9. Finally, make at least two copies of all documents, as one copy should be sent to the defendant, and the other one should be submitted to the court.

File for Divorce Online in Michigan Without a Lawyer

Currently, you do not need a lawyer to get a divorce. People seeking an uncontested divorce have the opportunity to complete this process on their own while saving lots of money and time. For example, they can file for a divorce online in Michigan. Let's dive deep into this topic.

Filing Process

If divorcing people have complex financial matters, children disputes, or a potentially difficult ex-partner, they will need to hire an attorney to provide objective advice and protect their interests in court. In other cases, the divorce process can be completed relatively easily without the aid of an attorney.

Here's the list of things you need to do to apply for a divorce without legal assistance:
  • Prepare divorce paperwork according to local requirements.
  • File divorce forms in the Family Division of the Circuit Court (also called a "trial court") in the county where either partner lives.
  • At the moment of filing, the plaintiff (the person initiating the divorce case) should pay court fees so that the court can accept and review the request.
  • Once the court reviews the submitted documents and the defendant responds to the complaint, the judge will schedule a court date for a hearing.
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Do-It-Yourself Divorce in Michigan

Even though a DIY divorce is not recommended for couples who disagree on divorce-related issues, it is a great option for people going through an amicable route. In this case, spouses will have to follow the same steps as during a legally assisted procedure:

Do-it-yourself divorce consists of several stages:

1. Fill out the paperwork necessary for the case.

In Michigan, soon-to-be-ex-spouses have the opportunity to file a joint petition for divorce (also called a petition for a "consent judgment"). In most courts, residents of this state will be required to file a:

  • Petition (Consent Judgment)
  • Domestic violence screening form
  • Confidential Case Inventory (if there are any other pending or resolved family division cases), and a
  • Proposed Consent Judgment/Order.

2. File completed forms with the court.

During this step of the divorce, the plaintiff has to file court-approved divorce paperwork and the requisite copies with the clerk of court in the county of each spouse's residence and pay the filing fee.

3. Serve divorce documents on the defendant.

Once divorce papers are filed with the court, the plaintiff has 90 days to inform the defendant that legal action has been taken against them. In Michigan, this task can be carried out in one of the following ways:

  • By hiring the local sheriff's department, police department, or a process server;
  • By any person over 18 years who is not related to the case;
  • By certified mail, return receipt requested;
  • By publication (if the defendant cannot be located).

4. Go through a mandatory waiting period.

Under Michigan family law, each couple applying for a divorce without minor children is required to follow a 60-day waiting period before marriage dissolution can be finalized. If there are minor children involved, the waiting period increases to 180 days.

5. Attend the final hearing

Once the plaintiff receives a response to the complaint, the court will schedule a court date for a hearing. During this hearing, the judge will enter a Judgment of Divorce (if there is enough information to make a decision).

We provide you with:
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  • All Required Michigan State Forms
  • Michigan-Specific Court Filing Instructions
  • Unlimited Revisions for as long as your account is active

Getting a Divorce With Children in Michigan

To get a divorce with minor children in Michigan, the couple should decide:

  • on the type of custody that satisfies both parties;
  • where the children will live;
  • how much time the children will spend with each parent;
  • how the children will be financially supported.

Anyways, parents should act in the child's best interests. Otherwise, if the judge finds that a child's rights are not protected properly, the court will make major decisions regarding child custody and support independently. Plus, some parents going through a divorce or legal separation might be required to take a parenting class.

The main factors considered when awarding child custody and support include but are not limited to:

  • The child's age and personal preferences
  • The child's relationships with other family members, including siblings and grandparents
  • The home, school, and community of the child.
  • Each parent's financial status
  • Each parent's physical and mental health
  • The history of domestic abuse

After reviewing these factors, the judge will award both legal and physical custody to the parents (the custody can also be sole or joint in the state). Then, parenting time must be established.

In uncontested divorce cases, parents are able to agree to a specific parenting time without the court's involvement, which makes the whole divorce way easier. For example, it can be done during divorce counseling sessions. In contested cases, a judge will make parenting time decisions based on the "best interests of the child."

Child support is calculated using the Michigan Child Support Formula. In other words, monthly payments depend on the income of both parents, the number of children, and the number of overnights the child spends with each parent.

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Residency Requirements in Michigan

To apply for a divorce in Michigan, both requirements listed below should be met.

  • At least one of the partners has lived in the state for a minimum of 180 days before the divorce case is started.
  • Either the plaintiff or defendant has resided in the county in which the complaint is filed for 10 days before the divorce is filed.

At the same time, Michigan residents have two ways to get out of the 10-day requirement:

  1. If the defendant is not a citizen of the US, or
  2. If minor children are at risk of being removed from the US by the defendant.

If at least one of the residency requirements is not fulfilled, the divorce case will likely be dismissed.

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How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in Michigan?

It is impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to get divorced, as each case is unique. Factors affecting the length of the divorce process typically include the type of divorce, the time needed to negotiate with the other spouse and prepare the necessary court forms, the type of services used, and so on.

However, Michigan requires a mandatory 60-day and 180-day waiting period for couples without and with minor children, respectively. This period starts from the date the divorce complaint is filed with the court.

The court will also need additional time to review paperwork and enter a divorce decree. Thus, the average uncontested divorce case can last from 3 to 7 months in Michigan.

When it comes to contested cases, they are way more complicated. People applying for this type of divorce need to resolve a variety of divorce-related issues, such as:

  • child custody, parenting time, and child support
  • division of assets and debt allocation
  • alimony payments or spousal support amounts

As a result, it is not unusual for a contested divorce case to last up to a year or more.

Customer Testimonials
Maria P.
Wayne County
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Oakland County
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Macomb County
Thinking about all that paperwork thing I was preparing for the worst. Fortunately, we agreed on an online divorce! The site was easy to use and we got our completed divorce papers really quickly. We didn't have any problems with the court as well.
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Mark F.
Kent County
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Genesee County
Got a first class service for a low price. Everything was ready on time, and the court approved the papers without questions. Thanks for the help!
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Ellie S.
Washtenaw County
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Laura G.
Ingham County
The staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the help with documents preparation was excellent. Our divorce papers were ready much faster than I expected.
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Gabriel H.
Livingston County
I completed everything really fast and with no hassle. Their support was quite helpful too. I'm pleased with the service of OnlineMichiganDivorce.
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Anthony D.
Jackson County
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Frequently Asked Questions

The main steps to file for an uncontested divorce in Michigan are:

  • Preparing divorce papers
  • Filing divorce paperwork with the court
  • Serving the defendant with divorce forms
  • Attending a final court hearing

Typical contested divorce cases require legal assistance, which costs around $9,500 to $11,300 in Michigan. An uncontested divorce is way less expensive in the state. In addition to court filing fees (around $175-250), you can spend $139 to prepare state-specific divorce paperwork with the help of our platform. As a result, the final cost of the divorce process will not be more than $800.

To get a free divorce, you should use a DIY method and ask the court to waive filng fees using a Fee Waiver Request form. If you provide evidence that your gross household income is under 125% of the federal poverty level, the judge will waive filing fees for your case.

Generally, you can obtain blank divorce forms from the Clerk’s Office of the Michigan Supreme Court or use this web-based form generator provided by Michigan Legal Help for downloading uncontested divorce papers online in Michigan.

Alternatively, to save money and time on the preparation of necessary divorce forms, you can get a divorce online in Michigan using OnlineMichiganDivorce. Our system provides all the relevant forms, customizes them according to local requirements, and helps fill them out from the comfort of your home.

To file for an uncontested divorce in Michigan, you should go to the Circuit Court in the county where either you or your partner has resided for at least ten days before filing.

Michigan is a no-fault state, so it is enough to use "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage" as the ground for divorce. At the same time, a judge can take into consideration fault and a spouse's behavior during the marriage for spousal support and property division proceedings.

Under Michigan law, the marital property division follows the rule of "equitable distribution." Simply put, this state divides property as close to a 50-50 as possible based on what's fair under the circumstances of each case.