Uncontested Divorce in Michigan

Michigan lets spouses who agree on every issue file a joint divorce petition, but you'll still need to wait at least 60 days and attend a brief hearing.

You can get an uncontested divorce in Michigan if you meet the following requirements:

  • you or your spouse has lived in Michigan for at least 180 days and in the county where you'll file for at least 10 days
  • your marriage has broken down to the point that there's no reasonable likelihood you can save it, and
  • you and your spouse agree on every issue in your case, including property, debts, spousal support, and arrangements for your children.

An uncontested divorce in Michigan costs at least $175 in filing fees, sometimes more if you have minor children. Without young children, you can be divorced about two months after filing. With minor children, you'll usually wait six months unless the judge agrees to shorten that period.

Read on to find out more about Michigan's streamlined joint petition process, including the paperwork you'll need, how to notify your spouse, and what to expect at your hearing.

How to Qualify for an Uncontested Divorce in Michigan

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. You need only claim that your marriage has broken down to the point that you can't reasonably expect to save it. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.6 (2026).)

Beyond that, Michigan has two basic requirements for an uncontested divorce: reaching a comprehensive agreement on the issues and meeting the state and county residence requirements.

Agreement on the Divorce Issues

To qualify for an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must agree about all of the issues in your case, including:

If you're having trouble reaching agreement on these or any other matters you want to address in your divorce, mediation might help. Most mediators will prepare a document reflecting any agreements you reach during the process. You can use this document as the basis for your written divorce settlement agreement.

Even if you can't agree on everything by the time you file for divorce, you and your spouse can still settle your disputes at any point before trial, perhaps with the help of lawyers, a mediator, or both. In fact, the judge can order you to participate in mediation to resolve any contested issues. (Mich. Ct. R. 3.216 (2026).)

Michigan's Residency Requirements for Divorce

You must also meet the state's residency requirement to get divorced in Michigan. Just before you file the divorce papers, either you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least 180 days and in the county where you file for at least 10 days. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.9 (2026).)

If your spouse lives out of state, however, you have to meet an additional requirement: either you and your spouse lived together in Michigan as a married couple, or you've lived in the state for at least a year before the filing date. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.9f (2026).)

The Uncontested Divorce Process in Michigan

When you and your spouse are working together, the easiest way to get an uncontested divorce is to use Michigan's streamlined procedure known as a "summary proceeding for entry of consent judgment." This procedure lets you file the divorce papers with your spouse and skip some steps in the regular divorce process. (Mich. Ct. R. 3.223 (2026).)

Completing the Divorce Papers

First, locate the correct divorce forms and complete them. Always check that you're using the latest version of a form. The resource section at the end of this article tells you where to find them. The main forms you'll need are:

  • Petition (Consent Judgment) (form CCFD 25)
  • Domestic Violence Screening (form MC 282a) for each of you
  • Domestic Relations Judgment Information (form FOC 100)
  • Verified Statement (form FOC 23) if you have minor children or are requesting spousal support as part of your divorce judgment
  • Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit (form MC 416) if you have minor children
  • Confidential Case Inventory (form MC 21) if either of you has been involved in other family court cases, and
  • your proposed Consent Judgment, signed by both of you, which should include the provisions in your settlement agreement and meet the legal requirements for divorce judgments. (Mich. Ct. R. 3.211 (2026).)

You'll need to submit the Domestic Relations Judgment Information and Verified Statement to the Friend of the Court, an office of your local circuit court. The court clerk can tell you how.

Filing Your Paperwork

Once your paperwork is complete, you'll usually file your divorce papers with the circuit court clerk in the county where you or your spouse has lived for the past 10 days. However, you may file in any Michigan county if you meet the state residency requirement (discussed above), your spouse was born in or is a citizen of another country, and there's a risk that your spouse will take your child out of the United States. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.9 (2026).) You’ll pay court fees (see below) when you file.

Because you'll both sign the petition, the court won't issue a summons, and your spouse won't need to file an answer. But the clerk will issue a Notice of Request to Enter Consent Judgment (form CCFD 26), and the spouse who filed (called "Party A") must serve it on the other spouse ("Party B") according to the court rules. Your spouse can sign the acknowledgment of service on the form. (Mich. Ct. R. 3.223(C) (2026).) Make sure that you each have copies of all the documents you filed with the court.

Attending the Hearing for an Uncontested Divorce

After you file your joint petition, you and your spouse must both attend a court hearing to get your final uncontested divorce judgment in Michigan. But first, you'll have to wait for the mandatory "cooling-off" period in Michigan law. The court won't schedule a hearing until at least 60 days have passed since you filed the divorce papers. If you have minor children, the waiting period is generally six months. But if waiting six months would create an "unusual hardship," or you have another compelling need to get your final divorce sooner than that, you can ask the court (in your petition) to waive any longer waiting period beyond the 60-day mandatory minimum. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.9f; Mich. Ct. R. 3.223(C), (D) (2026).)

At the hearing, the judge will ask some brief questions about your settlement agreement. If the agreement is fair and you meet all the other legal requirements, the judge will sign your final divorce judgment.

Either of you can back out before then. If one spouse objects to this streamlined process before the judge enters the judgment, the court will dismiss the case, and you'd need to start over with a regular divorce filing. (Mich. Ct. R. 3.223(C)(5) (2026).)

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Michigan?

Generally, an uncontested divorce is much cheaper than a traditional, contested divorce. That's because many couples can complete the uncontested divorce process without hiring lawyers, which can lead to big savings on the normal cost of divorce.

Court Filing Fees

The basic cost of an uncontested divorce in Michigan is the $175 court fee to file your joint petition, which includes a $25 fee for the state's electronic filing system. Because your spouse doesn't file a separate answer, that's the only filing fee most couples will pay. (Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 600.1986, 600.2529 (2026).)

If your case involves minor children, you usually pay an additional $80 fee to determine custody or parenting time, or $40 if it involves only child support. However, the court must waive or suspend this fee when you file your signed consent judgment along with your petition. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2529 (2026).) Ask the clerk how to request this.

You can also avoid paying a process server if your spouse signs the acknowledgment of service on the notice of filing.

Requesting a Fee Waiver

If you can't afford the court fees, you can file a Fee Waiver Request (form MC 20) with information about your income, assets, and expenses. If you qualify, the judge will order your fees waived or suspended (postponed), in whole or in part. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2529 (2026).)

Other Costs

Beyond these court costs, your costs will depend on whether you get a "pure" do-it-yourself divorce or need some help with the process:

  • Online divorce services typically charge between $150 and $700 to provide and complete the divorce forms and settlement agreement.
  • If you need help reaching a settlement agreement, divorce mediation costs can vary widely, depending on the number and complexity of the issues. Typical total costs range from about $3,000 to $8,000, with each spouse normally paying half. If your income is limited, Michigan's Community Dispute Resolution Program centers offer mediation at low or no cost.
  • If you're splitting retirement accounts related to your employment (like a 401(k) or pension), you'll probably need to pay an expert to prepare the special court order known as a "qualified domestic relations order" (QDRO).

And, of course, if you hire lawyers, your costs will go up. But you can probably minimize lawyers' fees by getting help only when it's necessary.

Do You Need a Lawyer for an Uncontested Divorce?

You probably don't need a lawyer to get an uncontested divorce in Michigan. You can handle all the paperwork and filing yourself, or use an online service to simplify the process. But you might consider at least speaking with a qualified family law attorney if you have complex assets to divide (like retirement accounts or a family business), if you have questions about aspects of your divorce, or if you want an independent legal review of your settlement agreement to make sure that you haven't missed anything or given up any of your legal rights.

Michigan's divorce laws are contained in Chapter 552 of the Michigan Compiled Laws on the Michigan Legislature's website.

You can find the Michigan Court Rules, as well as the location and other information for all circuit courts, on the Michigan Courts website.

There are several ways to get the divorce forms you'll need:

  • The Michigan Courts' Miscellaneous Family Division forms page has the joint petition (CCFD 25) and the notice of filing (CCFD 26). You can find the remaining forms on the Michigan Courts' Domestic Relations forms page.
  • You can get paper copies of the forms from the court clerk in the county where you'll file.
  • You can also use an online divorce service that will provide and complete the forms for you.

Finally, Michigan Legal Help offers plain-language guides, worksheets, and a directory of local self-help centers.