Michigan divorce at a glance
Official source: Michigan court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Michigan: step by step
Michigan is pure no-fault, with a 60-day wait (or 6 months with children). Here is the path from complaint to a Judgment of Divorce.
- Confirm you can file in Michigan
One spouse must have lived in Michigan 180 days and in the county 10 days. Michigan is pure no-fault — you state only that the marriage has broken down.Source: MCL 552.6 - Prepare your complaint
Prepare the Complaint for Divorce and the SCAO supporting forms (and a UCCJEA affidavit if you have children).Source: SCAO Domestic Relations forms - File with the Circuit Court
File with the Circuit Court (Family Division) and pay about $175 (about $255 with children), or file Form MC 20 to waive the fee. Many courts use MiFILE e-filing.Source: Form MC 20 (fee waiver); MiFILE - Serve your spouse
Serve your spouse or get a signed acknowledgment of service.Source: MCR 2.105 - Wait the statutory period and set support
Wait 60 days (no minor children) or 6 months (with children) from filing. If you have children, calculate support with the Michigan Child Support Formula calculator.Source: MCL 552.9f; Michigan Child Support Formula - Finalize your judgment
Attend a brief final hearing; the judge signs the Judgment of Divorce.Source: Judgment of Divorce
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Michigan?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Michigan you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Michigan pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Michigan
Income-shares model (the Michigan Child Support Formula), calculated with the state MiChildSupport calculator.
Because Michigan uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Michigan divorce take?
A statutory wait after filing: 60 days with no minor children, or 6 months (180 days) with children (reducible to 60 in hardship). After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Michigan divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Moderate. SCAO forms are uniform statewide, but county Friend of the Court offices have their own intake requirements and local forms.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Michigan document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Michigan. In the meantime, the official Michigan court forms are linked below.
Official Michigan forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Michigan divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Michigan?
No. Michigan allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Michigan divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Michigan to file for divorce?
180 days in state, 10 days in county
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Michigan?
$175 without minor children; ~$255 with children ($175 + $80 judgment/FOC fee). Fee waiver: form MC 20 Fee Waiver Request (statewide). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.