Online Divorce in Michigan | Get Cheap MI Divorce Papers (24/7)

How to get an online divorce

Step1

Check If You Qualify

Delimiter
Step2

Complete Questionnaire

Delimiter
Step3

Review Completed Forms

Delimiter
Step4

File for Divorce

Disclaimer: OnlineDivorce is not a law firm and its services, website, forms or templates are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. OnlineDivorce provides access to computer-aided self-help services at your specific direction. OnlineDivorce's website and written instructions provide general information about the divorce process only; we cannot give you any specific advice, opinions or recommendations as to your selection or completion of forms or your particular legal rights, remedies or options. OnlineDivorce.com is a website that provides access to self-guided online questionnaires. OnlineDivorce does not sell blank forms. You may be able to download blank forms from a government website depending on your state.

Communications between you and OnlineDivorce are governed by our Privacy Policy but are not covered by the attorney-client or work product privileges. Your access to OnlineDivorce's website is subject to and governed by our Terms of Use. Any purchase from OnlineDivorce is subject to and governed by our Terms of Service.

Online Divorce in Michigan

divorce in Michigan

For those seeking an inexpensive divorce in the state of Michigan, online divorce is an easy, affordable and fast solution. Online divorce may be appropriate for couples who have an uncontested case.

The step-by-step process of preparing divorce documents at Onlinedivorce.com makes it easy for you. We help prepare all of the necessary divorce forms and provide detailed written instructions on how to file your divorce in Michigan.

Our divorce documents preparation service can be a perfect solution for those who want to have their divorce papers completed quickly and without stress.

Even though Michigan has unique divorce forms and filing requirements, our online system provides the exact forms necessary along with instructions on how to file. We have helped thousands of people prepare their divorce documents for filing.

If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce and want an amicable dissolution to your marriage, why should the process get drawn out, and why should you spend money on lawyers? Online divorce is often cheaper, quicker and easier.

Online divorce can be a perfect option if you want to save money or hope to have your divorce finalized quickly to get on with your life. Preparing documents for divorce online in Michigan is fast becoming very popular because you can complete the documents in the comfort of your home.

Even if you think your case is too complex because you have children, own your own home, or have other assets, you may still be able to prepare your documents online. Just start with our simple questionnaire, and we’ll provide you instructions for each step of the way.

The process at OnlineDivorce.com is 100% secure. We protect your information, and nothing is filed until you submit the divorce papers to the courthouse yourself. Filing for divorce in Michigan with the Onlinedivorce.com system can be a simple solution to a difficult situation.

Filing:

When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we help you fill out your divorce paperwork using a simple online questionnaire. You can fill it out alone or with the assistance of your spouse. Then, after getting the other spouse’s signature, the divorce forms may be filed at the local court.

In Michigan, you will typically file with the courthouse in the county in which you currently reside. If a petitioner is not currently a resident but a defendant is, divorce is typically filed in the county where the defendant resides.

The actual filing process is explained in our detailed court-filing instructions that we provide, along with your completed divorce forms. You can also obtain assistance from your local courthouse by calling or stopping by.

After the initial filing, you may need to follow up if there are any issues with your documents. When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we allow you to make small adjustments to your forms as requested by the court at no additional charge. Our goal is to help you obtain your divorce with as little hassle and stress as possible using our online divorce documents preparation service.

Residency:

Every state has specific requirements where divorcing couples must establish residency before filing for divorce. Michigan is no exception.

Immediately prior to filing for divorce, one of the spouses must have been a resident of Michigan for 180 days and a resident of the county for at least 10 days where the divorce is filed.

However, a person may file for divorce in any county in the state without meeting this 10-day residency requirement if the defendant was born in a foreign country, there are minor children in the marriage, and there is a risk of minor children being taken out of the country by the defendant. [Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated; Section 552.9]

There are many ways to prove that residency has been established. The easiest way is if one or both spouses have a valid and current Michigan driver’s license, ID card or voter’s registration card issued at least six months before filing for divorce.

If this is not the case, it may be possible to establish residency by having someone who knows you or your spouse testify that you have lived in the state for at least six months. Additionally, it may be possible to use an Affidavit of Corroborating Witness form as proof you’ve lived in the state for a minimum of six months.

Commitment to customers

Our tool have helped over 500,000 people get quick and stress-free divorce while saving money in the process.

Save money
Save money

Cost effective solution designed to support you without lawyers fees.

Easy to follow
Easy to follow online process

Our intelligent questionnaire gives you specific instruction for your situation.

Specific forms
Specific forms for filling location

Up-to-date forms and instructions for your specific court to ensure success.

File
We can file your forms with the court

We can handle court filings and serving your spouse.

Support
Warp around support

Additional support services to help you navigate divorce — help with kids, the house, financial matters and more.

Life after divorce
Life after divorce

Expert-guided post-divorce support to help you happily move on with your life.

legal questions
Access to independent attorneys for legal questions

We can connect you with licensed attorneys in your state to answer questions about your case.

Check if you qualify for an online divorce in Michigan

Get your ready-to-file Michigan divorce paperwork

Valid grounds to get divorce in Michigan

Michigan flag

Grounds for an online divorce using OnlineDivorce.com are the same as they would be for any divorce within the State of Michigan. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the state must approve them.

 

There is only one reason for divorce recognized in the state--it covers both fault and no-fault cases.

 

Essentially, both parties must agree that a breakdown of the marriage relationship has occurred to the extent that the marriage has been destroyed, and there is no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. [Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated; Section 552.6]

OnlineDivorce reviews

Wesley H.

Wesley H., Missouri

I started my divorce on my own, spending loads of money on lawyer visits in the beginning. So I decided to google for other ways and using this site was so much more simple!

James V.

James V., Texas

I had a very successful business at the time. So, making sure I had the right forms was very very important during my divorce. I was so surprised at how easy and smooth this process was.

Chloe J.

Chloe J., Florida

After years of a tumultuous marriage, I finally decided that I needed to reclaim my life. I was looking for how to go about it and came across this site and they simplified and made the process of divorce easy for me. I never thought it would’ve been possible.

Will S.

Will S., Colorado

Stress-free and easy! I was initially gonna hire a lawyer but I found online divorce the next best option. No muss, no fuss divorce. No big legal words that I’d have to have read 10 times to understand!

Marco P.

Marco P., California

California is expensive and divorce can be even more expensive in the end but I can say that this site payed everything out for me to follow, from child support to alimony. My ex agreed to go this way as well so it was a much less expensive option for us.

Tamara B.

Tamara B., Nevada

Because of the whole dissolution of the marriage, I was struggling with two children and just in limbo with my husband at the time because of child support and alimony. I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. I just want to say that this site helped me sort it out. Thank you.

Theresa S.

Theresa S., New York

I live in upstate NY and unfortunately one day I found myself in a situation for divorce. I was all out of whack, needed answers to take action. Enough was enough so I did it on this site. Everything was clear to understand, all forms and what to put in which box.

Livy B.

Livy B., Illinois

Onlinedivorce.com is the bomb! I mean, using it was so easy to follow. So, if you find yourself in this situation do your divorce here if possible. Documents for all stages, alimony, child support and all!

Want an easy divorce?

Join thousands who already got completed divorce documents online in an affordable way

Custody of the child in Michigan

Custody of the child

Sole or joint (legal or physical) custody is awarded to the parents based on what is deemed to be in the best interests of the child, the desires of the parents, and on these factors:

  • The overall moral character of the parents as has been proven by past actions;
  • Any physical, emotional, mental, religious, and social needs of the child;
  • The ability and desire of each parent to meet the child’s emotional, educational, and other needs;
  • Preferences of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and maturity;
  • The love and affection which exists between the child and each parent;
  • The duration the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity;
  • The desire of each parent to allow a quality relationship between the child and the other parent;
  • The child’s connection to his or her home, school, and community;
  • The overall health of all individuals involved, including both parents and children;
  • Domestic violence, either directed against or witnessed by the child;
  • The permanence as a family unit of the proposed custodial home or homes; and
  • Any other factors deemed relevant by the court to do justice to the case.

If joint custody is an issue, the court will consider all the above factors and the following additional factors:

  • Whether the parents can cooperate and generally agree concerning important decisions affecting the welfare of the child, and
  • If the parents wish to have joint custody. [Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated; Sections 552.16, 722.23, and 722.26a]

Rules for child support in Michigan

Whether the primary or supporting custodian, either parent may be ordered to provide a just and proper amount of child support. There is a Child Support Formula that is often used as a guideline. This formula is presumed to be correct unless shown to be unjust or inappropriate under the circumstances in a particular case.

There is a legal manual available from the Michigan Friend of the Court Bureau. The court may require the parent providing support to file a bond guaranteeing the support payments.

Support may include health care, dental care, childcare, and education of the child. The Judgment of Divorce must include a provision that requires one or both of the parents to provide health care coverage if such coverage is available at a reasonable cost as a benefit of employment.

All payments of child support shall be ordered to be made through the Michigan Friend of the Court Bureau. Each parent will be required to keep the Michigan Friend of the Court Bureau informed of their current address, all sources of income, and the existence of or lack of health insurance coverage. [Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated; Sections 552.15, 552.16, 552.452, and 552.519]

Uncontested Michigan divorce with children

Save more time for your children - complete your divorce papers online

Rules for spousal support in Michigan

Rules for spousal support

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is sometimes ordered by the court to help one spouse live in a manner established during the marriage after the divorce.

Assistance may be decided upon by the couple before filing or by the court in a contested case. The court may award rehabilitative (short-term) or more permanent alimony to either of the spouses in either lump-sum payments or as monthly/yearly payments or both.

In the state of Michigan, either spouse can be ordered to pay alimony. Alimony would be awarded only if a spouse shows a need and the supporting spouse is able to pay. Factors for consideration specified in the statute are:

  • The ability of either spouse to pay;
  • The character and situation of the spouses; and
  • All other circumstances of the case.

All payments of spousal support shall be ordered to be made through the Michigan Friend of the Court Bureau. When you pay directly to the court, there is less chance for arguments to break out later, and both parties are protected. [Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated; Sections 552.13, 552.23]

Property division in Michigan

Property division

When a couple chooses to divorce in Michigan, they must split their property in a fair and agreeable manner. Property distribution can be handled independently and without involving the court in an undisputed divorce.

In doing so, the couple may make their own decisions regarding how property is distributed as long as it is fair and both members of the couple agree without being coerced or manipulated in any way.

On the other hand, the court can become involved in a case where a decision is not made independently. If this is the case, specific rules must be followed to assure that the spouses receive their fair share from the marital estate.

Michigan is an “equitable distribution” state. The court can divide all of the spouse’s property, including any gifts or inheritances, in a just and reasonable manner if it appears that the spouses contributed to the acquisition, improvement, or accumulation of the property. The factors to be considered are:

  • The contribution each made to marital property, including any contribution as homemaker;
  • The length of the marriage;
  • Any retirement benefits, including social security, civil service, and military and railroad retirement benefits;
  • The existence of prior marriage of each spouse;
  • The reasons for the estrangement of the spouses;
  • The source of the property;
  • Who caused the divorce; and
  • Each spouse’s financial situation and rights to any insurance policies. [Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated; Sections 552.19, 552.101, and 552.401 and Michigan Case Law]

Why us?

Hummer
Contested Divorce

Hourly Billing - Driving the Average Cost of Divorce to $15,000+

Contested divorces can be lengthy and costly due to spouses being unable to agree on one or more key issues, including child custody, property division, or spousal support.

  • Offline and inconvenient process in which both parties often hire attorneys to represent their interests.
  • The adversarial nature of a contested divorce can lead to heightened emotional stress and strain for both spouses and their families.
  • Absent a settlement, the final divorce judgment and terms are determined by the court, which may not fully align with the preferences of either spouse.
Logo

The premier uncontested divorce tool

Fast, affordable, and simple process using our fully-guided divorce questionnaire and filing service.

  • Online process to be completed at your own pace, can get documents as quickly as same day.
  • Receive ready-to-file forms specific to your jurisdiction and situation.
  • Easy online access for both spouses, free revisions for 30 days, and the ability to save your data longer term. Experienced customer support via chat and phone.
  • Ancillary services to ensure optimal outcomes, including name changes, co-parenting support, and getting started with your life after divorce.
  • Detailed instructions on how to file with the court or the option to purchase our filing service.

Mediation support in Michigan

If the court determines a chance for reconciliation in a non-contested case, they may require a delay and recommend mediation. Mediation is available in all cases for parties who wish to consider this as an alternative to divorce.

For more information about voluntary mediation, you can contact your local courthouse and ask for a referral to a court-recommended mediator. By using someone recommended by the court, you know your case will be in the best possible hands.

If you choose online divorce, mediation may be a good option to resolve any contested issues and assure the case will not have to go to court--potentially making it more expensive and time-consuming.

Divorce forms in Michigan

Michigan forms produced by OnlineDivorce.com are court-approved divorce forms. We have automated the process of filling them out to simplify matters and avoid any difficulties that may occur with filling out paperwork alone. By utilizing OnlineDivorce.com, you can streamline the process of preparing divorce documents and help both parties to move forward with their lives.

Divorce in Michigan online

Get your completed divorce forms and save thousands in legal fees

Filing fees for divorce in Michigan

When you file your divorce papers, the court will charge filing fees that may vary by county. These costs are in addition to the cost of using OnlineDivorce.com. Please check with your local courthouse to determine the exact amount.

How long will it take?

Using the OnlineDivorce.com service usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours or more, depending on the complexity of your case. Start by filling out the questionnaire. You can do it in one sitting or save your progress and complete it at a later date. Whatever is most convenient for you.

Once you’ve received the completed documents, you will need to file them and get your spouse’s signature. More information regarding the finalization of the divorce case is provided once the paperwork has been completed and submitted to the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really file for divorce in Michigan without a lawyer?

In a divorce in Michigan, the spouses can act as self-represented litigants, i.e., without an attorney. Such a do-it-yourself divorce (or Pro Se divorce, legally speaking) is gaining popularity due to its low cost but has its pitfalls and risks.

Thus, experts in family law cases typically do not recommend arranging a divorce without legal representation for those couples who contest the case or who have not yet reached an agreement about essential terms of their separation, like property division, child custody, or financial matters. The desire to save money should not outweigh a reasonable approach to the procedure and sober assessment of the potential difficulties and divorce implications.

In contrast, if the spouses separate amicably and either do not have minor children and marital property or can solve all the disputed issues out-of-court, they may manage the divorce process independently. Besides a completely DIY divorce, they can also resort to some alternative divorce options like divorce mediation, counseling, unbounded legal services, or use the help of OnlineDivorce.com at the stage of drafting documents.

How can I file for divorce in Michigan without a lawyer?

Even though each dissolution case is unique, and some couples may have to take some additional steps, there are several main stages of the divorce process in Michigan, which are common for all, regardless of the type of divorce and the spouses' circumstances.

  1. Foremost, the spouse initiating the case (the plaintiff) needs to gather, fill out, and file the required divorce papers with the Clerk of Courts in the particular county. The plaintiff also has to pay a court filing fee to start a court case.
  2. Then, he or she shall make copies of the initial documents, including the Complaint for Divorce, the Summons, and others, depending on the case.
  3. The next step is serving the second spouse (the defendant) with these copies of documents within 91 days after filing. The plaintiff is not allowed to hand the papers to the defendant personally. He or she can ask any adult person who is not involved in the case to do it, hire the local sheriff's department or a private process server, or send the copies via registered or certified mail (a return receipt must be requested).
  4. As soon as the divorce petition is filed, the waiting period starts. In Michigan, if the spouses do not have minor children, the waiting period is sixty days, and if they do, there is a six-month waiting period.

In some cases, the waiting period can be shortened or dismissed by filing the appropriate motion. The court may considerably shorten the divorce timeline if it finds the request reasonable (for example, if it’s in the child’s best interest).

How much does it cost to get an uncontested divorce in Michigan?

The cost of any dissolution of marriage in Michigan starts with the court collecting a filing fee. However, the rest of the costs are hard to predict since each divorce case is unique, and the spouses have broad discretion in managing expenses.

Thus, they may hire a full-service attorney even for their uncontested case, so the attorney's fees will make up the bulk of the divorce expenses. Or in contrast, the spouses may fill out all the papers by themselves and file for divorce almost for free, as self-represented litigants.
There are plenty of other alternative options between these extremes. The spouses may choose the aid and services that suit them best.

How long do you have to live in Michigan to file for divorce?

To file for divorce in Michigan, at least one of the parties must meet the state's residency requirements.

Thus, for the Circuit Court to accept a divorce lawsuit, either spouse must be a resident of Michigan for at least 180 days before filing the Complaint. Besides, either spouse must have lived in the county of filing for no less than ten days.

However, the ten-day residency requirement can be waived if a defendant is a citizen of another country, the parties have minor children, or the plaintiff provides the court with the evidence that the defendant may try to take their child outside of the US.

How long do you have to respond to divorce papers in Michigan?

After being personally served with divorce papers, the defendant has 21 days to file an answer to the divorce complaint.

If the defendant was served with divorce forms by mail or while he or she was outside of the state, they have 28 days to answer.

The defendant also has the right to file a counterclaim for divorce, which must be filed along with the answer.

How do you get a free divorce in Michigan?

The cheapest way to terminate the marriage in Michigan is to arrange a peaceful DIY divorce without taking advantage of paid legal aid or other related services. Thus, in theory, the spouses can pay only the court filing fee, which is between $175 and $255 in Michigan, depending on whether the spouses have minor children.

An entirely free divorce is only available to plaintiffs who cannot afford to pay the court filing fee. The plaintiff shall disclose their financial information and file a Fee Waiver Request with the court asking the court to waive the filing fees.

In some cases, the court can order the defendant to pay the court fees instead of the plaintiff.

What papers do I need to file for a divorce in Michigan?

The legal forms the spouses have to file may vary depending on the multiple circumstances of a particular divorce case.
The basic package of forms which are necessary for most divorce cases in Michigan includes Summons and Complaint, Complaint for Divorce, Marital Settlement Agreement, Judgment or Divorce, Answer and Waiver, Notice of Hearing, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act Affidavit.

Here is how OnlineDivorce.com makes completing divorce papers easier:

  • We provide the full divorce packet required by the local court - clients do not need to drive to their local courthouse to get the blank forms or search for the right divorce forms online. In rare cases, local county forms can vary in color, paper material, size, or bar code, so they may need to be obtained directly from the county clerk's office.
  • We complete the necessary forms for clients based on their answers given in a simple guided online interview - clients do not need to understand family law or read through complicated instructions to figure out how to fill out the forms themselves.
  • We give detailed, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce with the court - so the client knows exactly what to do to get his/her divorce finalized.
  • We provide unlimited technical support - if a client needs assistance through the online process, he/she can always reach out to us via phone, email, or live chat, and we'll do our best to help.
  • We save our clients time and money - if divorcing spouses agree regarding the terms of their divorce, they typically don’t have to pay thousands to a lawyer to handle their divorce forms and don't need to spend hours trying to do it all by themselves.