Average total costs for Michigan divorce lawyers are $9,500 to $11,300 but typically are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues. Divorce is almost never a pleasant experience.
To file for a divorce in Michigan, one spouse needs to have been a resident of the state for at least 180 days immediately prior to filing. In addition, the person who files must also have been a resident in the county where they filed for at least 10 days immediately prior to filing. Can I file for divorce in Michigan without using a lawyer?
When you file for divorce, you are required to pay a filing fee of $175 and an $80 judgment fee. You must also pay a fee to have your spouse served as well. This may run anywhere from $25-$50 or more based on the method you use. Depending on the county where papers are filed, there may also be some added miscellaneous costs as well.
An uncontested divorce in Michigan can be granted in Michigan in as little as 60 days if no children are involved. When children are a part of the proceedings, a divorce cannot be granted until a minimum six months have passed.
$1,200 to $1,500In Michigan, the average cost for a non-contested divorce can range from $1,200 to $1,500 with court filing fees and other legal documents. If your divorce is contested the costs can dramatically increase with a base price starting at $5,000.
It is possible to get a divorce in Michigan without using a lawyer as long as you meet all requirements for an uncontested divorce. You and your spouse must agree on all parts of the settlement, including asset division, alimony, child custody and support and all other related matters.
As long as you and your spouse have a certain level of trust and agree to cooperate, an uncontested divorce is the easiest and cheapest way to get a divorce in Michigan.
If you can't afford to pay the filing fees, you may ask the judge to waive the fees by filing a Fee Waiver Request. You can fill out the form yourself or use Michigan Legal Help's interactive tool to help you complete it. If the court grants your request, you won't have to pay any court costs during your divorce.
Does it matter who files for divorce first in Michigan? No, from a legal perspective, it does not matter who files first for divorce in Michigan. However, filing first does present an opportunity for the initiating party to request various orders to the court before your spouse is notified of the divorce proceedings.
60 days to nine monthsTypically, most divorces in Michigan take 60 days to nine months, without children. On the other hand, when children are involved it typically takes between six months and a year to reach a settlement.
To file for divorce in Michigan you need to follow the following steps:Determine if you can file for divorce. ... Reach an agreement. ... Find the proper court to file paperwork. ... Fill out the correct forms. ... File your forms with the court. ... Serve your spouse. ... Attend all court hearings. ... File the final documents.
Online divorce can only be initiated by couples seeking an uncontested divorce. In other words, to prepare divorce documents over the Internet, people should reach a mutual agreement on divorce-related terms, such as property division, spousal support, child custody, and so on.
The filing fee for a Michigan divorce petition is $175.00 if you do not have minor children. The filing fee for a divorce with minor children is $255.00. A divorce attorney or party filing the complaint will pay the fee at the time of filing.
Dating while divorcing in Michigan will not necessarily harm you legally, but it can impact aspects of your divorce. A new relationship, even if the relationship did not contribute to the breakdown of the marriage, can taint property division and child custody arrangements.
People often talk about “legal separation” as an alternative to divorce. In Michigan, this legal action is called “separate maintenance.” This is a court case between a married couple that can divide property and debt, decide child support, custody, and parenting time, and award spousal support.
No, mutual consent divorce petition cannot be filed online. You needs to appear twice before the Court of law for seeking a decree of divorce by way of mutual consent.