How to File for Divorce in Michigan Without a Lawyer (2026 Guide)

Can you file for divorce in Michigan without a lawyer?

Yes. Michigan law allows any person to file for divorce without an attorney. This is called filing "pro se" or "in propria persona." According to national statistics from the National Center for State Courts, approximately 67-80% of family law cases involve at least one self-represented party. In Michigan, which recorded 20,491 divorces statewide in 2023, thousands of people successfully file without attorneys every year.

Residency requirements

Before filing, you must meet Michigan's residency requirements under MCL 552.9:

• At least one spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days (approximately 6 months)
• At least one spouse must have lived in the county where you file for 10 days

Step 1: Determine your county

You file in the circuit court of the county where either you or your spouse lives. Michigan has 83 counties, each with its own circuit court clerk's office. Filing fees vary by county but typically range from $150 to $275.

Step 2: Gather required documents

Michigan requires several SCAO (State Court Administrative Office) approved forms. The exact forms depend on whether you have minor children:

All divorces require:

• Complaint for Divorce
• Summons
• Verified Statement and Verified Financial Information Form (CC 320)
• Record of Divorce or Annulment (DCH-0838) Divorces with minor children also require:
• Friend of the Court Case Questionnaire (FOC 23)
• Uniform Child Support Order (FOC 10/52)
• Application for IV-D Services
• Advice of Rights Regarding Friend of the Court (FOC 101)

If your spouse agrees (consent judgment):

• Judgment of Divorce (signed by both parties)
• Marital Settlement Agreement

Step 3: Calculate child support (if applicable)

If you have minor children, Michigan law requires a child support calculation using the Michigan Child Support Formula (MCL 552.605). The formula considers:

• Both parents' gross incomes from all sources
• The number of overnights each parent has with each child
• Health insurance premiums paid for the children
• Childcare expenses
• Other children the parents are legally obligated to support

The Friend of the Court in your county will review your child support calculation. If your calculation doesn't match theirs, it can delay your case.

Tip: Autonomy (autonomy.legal) uses the same Michigan Child Support Formula that courts use, producing calculations that match the Friend of the Court's results. This eliminates back-and-forth with the FOC office.

Step 4: Divide your property and debts

Michigan is an "equitable distribution" state (MCL 552.19, MCL 552.401), meaning courts divide marital property fairly — but not necessarily 50/50. Factors include duration of the marriage, each spouse's contribution to the marital estate, age, health, earning ability, and whether one spouse contributed to the education of the other.

For an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse need to agree on who gets what. Common items to address: real estate (including refinancing deadlines), vehicles, bank accounts and investments, retirement accounts (which may require a QDRO), and credit card debts, loans, and other obligations.

Step 5: File with the court

Bring your completed forms to the circuit court clerk's office in your county with the filing fee. The clerk will stamp your documents with a case number and file date.

Step 6: Serve your spouse

After filing, you must formally notify your spouse. Michigan allows personal service (a process server or any adult who is not you) or acknowledgment of service (your spouse signs a form acknowledging receipt — simplest for cooperative spouses).

Step 7: Wait the mandatory period

Michigan requires waiting periods before a divorce can be finalized:

• Without minor children: 60 days from date of filing (MCL 552.9f)
• With minor children: 6 months from date of filing (MCL 552.9f), though the court can reduce this to 60 days upon motion

Step 8: Finalize your divorce

For an uncontested divorce, you'll attend a brief "pro confesso" hearing where the judge verifies residency, confirms the marriage has broken down, reviews your settlement agreement and parenting plan, and signs the Judgment of Divorce.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Incorrect child support calculation: Using the wrong formula or wrong income figures. The FOC will catch this and send your paperwork back.
2. Missing forms: Each county may require slightly different forms or additional local forms.
3. Not addressing retirement accounts: If either spouse has a 401(k), pension, or IRA accumulated during the marriage, it's marital property that must be addressed in the judgment.
4. Forgetting the refinancing deadline: If one spouse keeps the home, the judgment should specify a deadline to refinance the mortgage into their name alone.
5. Not addressing health insurance: COBRA coverage, marketplace enrollment, and children's insurance must be addressed.

How Autonomy can help

Autonomy (autonomy.legal) is an AI-powered platform built by a Michigan family law attorney that automates the entire process:

• An AI assistant named Paige guides you through a conversational interview — no legal jargon, no confusing forms
• Child support is calculated using the exact Michigan Child Support Formula that courts use
• All required documents are generated for your specific county and case type — not generic templates, but documents custom-made for your family's situation
• Premium users can upload financial documents (pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns) and Paige extracts the data automatically using AI
• Property and debt division with intelligent analysis that helps you divide your estate fairly
• Documents are ready to print and file within 24 hours

Pricing starts at $499 for a complete document package. Compare this to average attorney fees of $5,000-$15,000 for an uncontested Michigan divorce.

Visit autonomy.legal to get started.