Going through a divorce can be one of the most difficult times in life. We can help you.

RESIDENTIAL FILING REQUIREMENTS 

If you are considering filing for divorce in Michigan, you must ensure you meet all the requirements.

• At least one of the spouses must have lived in the state for a minimum of 180 days or six months.
• You must also file in a circuit court in the county in which you reside. For example, if live you in Metro Detroit and want to initiate the divorce process in Oakland County, you or your spouse must have resided in the county for at least 10 days prior to the filing.

THE MICHIGAN DIVORCE PROCESS

Michigan is a pure “no-fault” divorce state. This means that no wrongdoing on the part of your spouse can be alleged as grounds for the divorce. The cause of all divorces in Michigan is deemed to be irreconcilable differences that caused the marriage to fail.

The divorce process in Michigan is largely dependent on whether it is contested or uncontested. A contested divorce is one in which there are major disputes between the spouses.

Examples include:

• One of the spouses is abusive;
• One of the spouses does not want to end the marriage;
• The parties strongly disagree on child custody;
• The parties strongly disagree on payment of child support;
• The parties strongly disagree on spousal support;
• The parties strongly disagree on property division;
• One spouse has reason to believe the other is hiding assets;
• The parties strongly disagree on any other major issue.

If any of the above points apply to your situation, your divorce will be contested. If, on the other hand, you and your spouse agree on all the major points, you can significantly reduce the time and cost of getting a divorce in Michigan by opting for an uncontested divorce.