Michigan · Uncontested divorce · Updated Oct 2026

Uncontested divorce in Michigan

For spouses in Michigan who agree on everything: how agreed cases are handled, the residency rule, the waiting period, the official forms, the fee waiver, e-filing, how your spouse can sign instead of being served and mediation.

In short

How agreed cases are handled in Michigan: No summary process. If your spouse doesn't answer, you can finish by default; if you agree, you can submit a consent judgment after the waiting period.

Who can file (residency)
180 days (with exceptions)
Waiting period
See the rule
Filing fee
Check with your court
E-filing
Yes

How agreed divorces are handled in Michigan

  • No summary process.
  • If your spouse doesn't answer, you can finish by default; if you agree, you can submit a consent judgment after the waiting period.
  • Michigan Legal Help has do-it-yourself tools for divorce with and without children.

Before you file in Michigan

Who can file (residency)
You or your spouse must have lived in Michigan for at least the last 180 days before filing, and in the county where you file for at least 10 days (with some exceptions).
Waiting period
No testimony can be taken (so the divorce can't be finished) until 60 days after filing if you have no minor children, or 6 months if you have children under 18. With children, the judge can shorten the wait for unusual hardship or another compelling reason, but not below 60 days.
Law
MCL 552.9 · MCL 552.9f

Forms, fees and filing in Michigan

Official forms
Divorce forms (Michigan courts)
Court self-help
Divorce self-help (Michigan courts)
If you can't afford the fee
File a Fee Waiver Request (MC 20) with your complaint; Michigan Legal Help's guided interview can prepare it: https://michiganlegalhelp.org/
E-filing
Yes, in courts using MiFILE, which is open to self-represented filers: https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/

If your spouse agrees to sign

Your spouse can also sign an acknowledgment of service.

If you agree on only some issues

Common. The judge or Friend of the Court may refer contested issues to mediation (there may be a fee); cases with a personal protection order or abuse can be excused.

An uncontested divorce in Michigan, step by step

  1. Check that you can file in Michigan

    You or your spouse must have lived in Michigan for at least the last 180 days before filing, and in the county where you file for at least 10 days (with some exceptions).

  2. Check how agreed cases are finished

    No summary process.

  3. Fill in the official forms

    Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Michigan courts)

  4. File, and pay the fee or ask for a waiver

    Can't afford it? File a Fee Waiver Request (MC 20) with your complaint; Michigan Legal Help's guided interview can prepare it: https://michiganlegalhelp.org/. Yes, in courts using MiFILE, which is open to self-represented filers: https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/.

  5. Have your spouse sign or be served

    Your spouse can also sign an acknowledgment of service.

  6. Wait out the waiting period

    No testimony can be taken (so the divorce can't be finished) until 60 days after filing if you have no minor children, or 6 months if you have children under 18.

  7. Get the final decree

    The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it.

Questions about uncontested divorce in Michigan

Is there a simplified divorce for agreed cases in Michigan?

No summary process. If your spouse doesn't answer, you can finish by default; if you agree, you can submit a consent judgment after the waiting period. Michigan Legal Help has do-it-yourself tools for divorce with and without children.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Michigan?

No testimony can be taken (so the divorce can't be finished) until 60 days after filing if you have no minor children, or 6 months if you have children under 18. With children, the judge can shorten the wait for unusual hardship or another compelling reason, but not below 60 days.

Who can file for an uncontested divorce in Michigan?

You or your spouse must have lived in Michigan for at least the last 180 days before filing, and in the county where you file for at least 10 days (with some exceptions).

Does my spouse have to be served if we agree in Michigan?

Your spouse can also sign an acknowledgment of service.

Can we file for divorce online in Michigan?

Yes, in courts using MiFILE, which is open to self-represented filers: https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/

Is mediation required in Michigan?

Common. The judge or Friend of the Court may refer contested issues to mediation (there may be a fee); cases with a personal protection order or abuse can be excused.

More about divorce in Michigan

Uncontested divorce in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.