Michigan Divorce Records

Divorce Records in Michigan

The states mandate the granting of divorces; therefore, the states maintain their own records. Records are kept for every divorce that occurs, typically in two separate locations. In Michigan, the State office has maintained divorce records since 1867. Unfortunately, some divorce records were not files with the state office, particularly during the earlier years prior to 1924.

Certified copies must be requested from the county where the divorce was filed and finalized. Divorce records are commonly requested for legal reasons in an attempt to verify that a divorce has occurred. Sometimes, the records are requested for genealogical searches.

Fees for requested searches and copies of all vital records, including divorce records, vary across most states and even across counties. The following number is available to ask about the look up cost in a particular county in Michigan: 517-335-8666. This number also provides the fees for other types of official record searches and copies in Michigan. The fees are small amounts that are designed to recover the cost of the search and/or copy.

In Michigan, written requests for divorce records should be sent to the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was finalized. Since all divorce records are filed by the husband�s last name, provide his name even if you are looking for a woman�s records. If the name isn�t available, you can conduct a search of past and present spouses. This type of search can be used to locate the name of the county since the addresses of all spouses are listed along with the name of the individual.

Most official vital record searches take between two to ten business days depending upon the amount of information that is provided with the request. Genealogical searches take longer. In most cases, certain factors influence this including the year of the divorce, the availability of pertinent information, the nature or urgency of the request, and the availability of courthouse resources and staff.

Follow the guidelines here to produce a more efficient search.

1. Print or type each complete name and address clearly to avoid confusion. This includes the full name of both the husband and the wife. The maiden name should be included for the wife.
2. Keep your request brief and to the point.
3. Limit your request to one document.
4. Include the full names of the individuals, including nicknames and alternate spellings that may have been used.
5. Include the full address of the individual at the time of the divorce, including street, city or town, and state. If you know the county in which the divorce took place, include that as well.
6. Include the date that the divorce was finalized. If you do not have this piece of information available, include a time frame for the search. Generally, it is best to specify a short span of years for an unknown year search. You can always expand the number of years that you search, and a shorter span will lead to a shorter search. You can expect to pay an additional fee for searches such as this that require more effort.
7. Include contact information where you can be reached in the event that more information is required. Include a daytime telephone number, as well as, an evening telephone number. You may also include a fax number or an e-mail address.
8. Include your relationship to the individual�s listed in your search request.
9. Include the purpose of your request.
10. Print your name clearly and sign your request. Some states may also require additional identifying information on you as well, including a driver�s license number.
11. Include a SASE, or self addressed stamped envelope with your request for a speedier delivery.
12. Include the date that you mail your request with your correspondence.

A list of the local county courthouses for Michigan is provided below in alphabetical order. Telephone numbers have been provided when available, but should be used for informational purposes only.

State of Michigan
Michigan Vital Records Requests
Michigan Dept of Community Health
3423 N. Martin Luther King Blvd
P. O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone: (517) 335-8666

Alcona County
Alcona County Clerk
106 Fifth Street
Harrisville, MI 48740-9789
Telephone: (989) 724-5374

Alger County
Alger County Clerk
101 Court Street
Munising, MI 49862-1103
Telephone: (906) 387-2076

Allegan County
Allegan County Clerk
113 Chestnut St.
Allegan, MI 49010-1332
Telephone: (616) 673-0306

Alpena County
Alpena County Clerk
720 W. Chisholm St.
Alpena, MI 49707-2429
Telephone: (989) 356-0115

Antrim County
Antrim County Clerk
208 East Cayuga Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
Telephone: (616) 533-8607

Arenac County
Arenac County Clerk
P.O. Box 747, Courthouse
Standish, MI 48658-0747
Telephone: (989) 846-4626

Baraga County
Baraga County Clerk
16 N. 3rd St., Courthouse
L'Anse, MI 49946-1085
Telephone: (906) 524-6183

Barry County
Barry County Clerk
220 W. State St., Courthouse
Hastings, MI 49058
Telephone: (616) 948-4810

Bay County
Bay County Clerk
515 Center Ave.
Bay City, MI 48708-5941
Telephone: (989) 895-3528

Benzie County
Benzie County Clerk
P.O. Box 398, Courthouse
Beulah, MI 49617
Telephone: (616) 882-9671

Berrien County
Berrien County Clerk
701 Main St.
Saint Joseph, MI 49085
Telephone: (616) 983-7111

Branch County
Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
Telephone: (517) 279-4306

Calhoun County
Calhoun County Clerk
315 West Green St.
Marshall, MI 49068
Telephone: (616) 781-0730

Cass County
Cass County Clerk
120 North Broadway
Cassopolis, MI 49031-1302
Telephone: (616) 445-8621

Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County Clerk
203 Antrim St., Courthouse
Charlevoix, MI 49720
Telephone: (616) 547-7200

Cheboygan County
Cheboygan County Clerk
P.O. Box 70
Cheboygan, MI 49721
Telephone: (616) 627-8808

Chippewa County
Chippewa County Clerk
319 Court St., Courthouse
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783-2183
Telephone: (906) 635-6300

Clare County
Clare County Clerk
225 West Main Street
P.O. Box 438
Harrison, MI 48625
Telephone: (989) 539-7131

Clinton County
Clinton County Clerk
100 East State Street
St. Johns, MI 48879-1571
Telephone: (517) 224-5100

Crawford County
Crawford County Clerk
200 W. Michigan Ave.
Grayling, MI 49738-1745
Telephone: (989) 348-2841

Delta County
Delta County Clerk
310 Ludington St.
Escanaba, MI 49829-4057
Telephone: (906) 789-5105

Dickinson County
Dickinson County Clerk
P.O. Box 609
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
Telephone: (906) 774-0988

Eaton County
Eaton County Clerk
1045 Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, MI 48813-1033
Telephone: (517) 543-7500

Emmet County
Emmet County Clerk
200 Division St.
Petoskey, MI 49770
Telephone: (616) 348-1744

Genesee County
Genesee County Clerk
900 S. Saginaw St.
Flint, MI 48502
Telephone: (810) 257-3225

Gladwin County
Gladwin County Clerk
401 W. Cedar Ave.
Gladwin, MI 48624-2023
Telephone: (989) 426-7351

Gogebic County
Gogebic County Clerk
200 N. Moore St.
Bessemer, MI 49911
Telephone: (906) 663-4518

Grand Traverse
Grand Traverse County Clerk
400 Boardman Ave.
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: (231) 922-4760

Gratiot County
Gratiot County Clerk
P.O. Box 437, Courthouse
Ithaca, MI 48847-1446
Telephone: (989) 875-5215

Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County Clerk
County Courthouse
29 N. Howell St.
Hillsdale, MI 49242-1865
Telephone: (517) 437-3391

Houghton County
Houghton County Clerk
401 E. Houghton Ave.
Houghton, MI 49931-2016
Telephone: (906) 482-1150

Huron County
Huron County Clerk
Huron County Courthouse
250 E. Huron Ave., Rm. 201
Bad Axe, MI 48413
Telephone: (517) 269-9942

Ingham County
Ingham County Clerk
366 South Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 179
Mason, MI 48854
Telephone: (517) 676-7204

Ionia County
Ionia County Clerk
100 Main St., Courthouse
Ionia, MI 48846
Telephone: (616) 527-5322

Iosco County
Iosco County Clerk
P.O. Box 838
Tawas City, MI 48764-0838
Telephone: (989) 362-3497

Iron County
Iron County Clerk
2 S. 6th St.
Crystal Falls, MI 49920-1413
Telephone: (906) 875-3121

Isabella County
Isabella County Clerk
200 N. Main St.
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858-2321
Telephone: (517) 772-0911

Jackson County
Jackson County Clerk
312 Jackson St.
Jackson, MI 49201
Telephone: (517) 788-4268

Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County Clerk
201 W. Kalamazoo Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3734
Telephone: (616) 383-8840

Kalkaska County
Kalkaska County Clerk
605 North Birch
Kalkaska, MI 49646-9436
Telephone: (616) 258-4176

Kent County
Kent County Clerk
300 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2206
Telephone: (616) 336-3550

Keweenaw County
Keweenaw County Clerk
HC1 Box 607, Courthouse
Eagle River, MI 49924-9700
Telephone: (906) 337-2229

Lake County
Lake County Clerk
P.O. Box B
Baldwin, MI 49304-0902
Telephone: (616) 745-4641

Lapeer County
Lapeer County Clerk
255 Clay St., Courthouse
Lapeer, MI 48446-2205
Telephone: (810) 667-0356

Leelanau County
Leelanau County Clerk
County Courthouse
P.O. Box 467
Leland, MI 49654
Telephone: (231) 256-9824

Lenawee County
Lenawee County Clerk
425 N. Main St.
Adrian, MI 49221
Telephone: (517) 263-8831

Livingston County
Livingston County Clerk
200 E. Grand River St.
Howell, MI 48843
Telephone: (517) 546-0500

Luce County
Luce County Clerk
East Court Street
Newberry, MI 49868
Telephone: (906) 293-5521

Mackinac County
Mackinac County Clerk
100 Marley St.
Saint Ignace, MI 49781-1457
Telephone: (906) 643-7300

Macomb County
Macomb County Clerk
40 N. Main St.
Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Telephone: (586) 469-5213

Manistee County
Manistee County Clerk
415 3rd St.
Manistee, MI 49660-1606
Telephone: (616) 723-3331

Marquette County
Marquette County Clerk
234 W. Baraga Ave.
Marquette, MI 49855-4710
Telephone: (906) 228-8500

Mason County
Mason County Clerk
304 E. Ludington Ave., Courthouse
Ludington, MI 49431-1797
Telephone: (616) 843-8202

Mecosta County
Mecosta County Clerk
400 Elm St.
Big Rapids, MI 49307-1849
Telephone: (616) 592-0783

Menominee County
Menominee County Clerk
839 10th Ave., Courthouse
Menominee, MI 49858-3000
Telephone: (906) 863-9968

Midland County
Midland County Clerk
220 W. Ellsworth
Midland, MI 48640
Telephone: (989) 832-6739

Missaukee County
Missaukee County Clerk
P.O. Box 800, Courthouse
Lake City, MI 49651-0800
Telephone: (616) 839-4967

Monroe County
Monroe County Clerk
106 E. 1st St.
Monroe, MI 48161-2143
Telephone: (734) 243-7081

Montcalm County
Montcalm County Clerk
211 W. Main Street
Stanton, MI 48888
Telephone: (989) 831-5226

Montmorency County
Montmorency County Clerk
County Courthouse
P.O. Box 415
Atlanta, MI 49709
Telephone: (989) 785-4794

Muskegon County
Muskegon County Clerk
990 Terrace St., 2nd Floor
Muskegon, MI 49442-3301
Telephone: (616) 724-6221

Newaygo County
Newaygo County Clerk
1087 Newell St.
White Cloud, MI 49349
Telephone: (616) 689-7235

Oakland County
Oakland County Clerk
1200 N. Telegraph Rd.
Pontiac, MI 48053-1008
Telephone: (248) 858-0560

Oceana County
Oceana County Clerk
P.O. Box 153
Hart, MI 49420
Telephone: (231) 873-4328

Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County Clerk
806 W. Houghton Ave., Courthouse
West Branch, MI 48661
Telephone: (989) 345-0215

Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County Clerk
725 Greenland Rd.
Ontonagon, MI 49953-1423
Telephone: (906) 884-4255

Osceola County
Osceola County Clerk
301 West Upton
Reed City, MI 49677-1149
Telephone: (616) 832-6101

Oscoda County
Oscoda County Clerk
P.O. Box 399
Mio, MI 48647
Telephone: (616) 832-5818

Otsego County
Otsego County Clerk
225 W. Main St.
Gaylord, MI 49735-1348
Telephone: (989) 732-6484

Ottawa County
Ottawa County Clerk
414 Washington St., Room 301
Grand Haven, MI 49417-1443
Telephone: (616) 846-8310

Presque Isle
Presque Isle County Clerk
151 East Huron Street
Rogers City, MI 49779-1316
Telephone: (989) 734-3288

Roscommon County
Roscommon County Clerk
P.O. Box 98, Courthouse
Roscommon, MI 48653
Telephone: (517) 275-5923

Saginaw County
Saginaw County Clerk
111 S. Michigan Ave., Room 101
Saginaw, MI 48602-2086
Telephone: (989) 790-5251

Saint Clair County
Saint Clair County Clerk
201 McMorran Blvd.
Port Huron, MI 48060-4006
Telephone: (810) 985-2200

Saint Joseph County
Saint Joseph County Clerk
P.O. Box 189
Centreville, MI 49032-0189
Telephone: (616) 467-5626

Sanilac County
Sanilac County Clerk
67 W. Sanilac Ave.
Sandusky, MI 48471-1060
Telephone: (810) 648-3212

Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft County Clerk
300 Walnut St., Room 164
Manistique, MI 49854-1414
Telephone: (906) 341-3618

Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County Clerk
208 N. Shiawassee St., Courthouse
Corunna, MI 48817
Telephone: (989) 743-2279

Tuscola County
Tuscola County Clerk
440 N. State St.
Caro, MI 48723-1555
Telephone: (989) 673-5999

Van Buren County
Van Buren County Clerk
212 Paw Paw St., Courthouse
Paw Paw, MI 49079-1492
Telephone: (616) 657-5581

Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County Clerk
101 E. Huron St.
P.O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
Telephone: (734) 994-2506

Wayne County
Wayne County Clerk
728 City County Bldg.
Detroit, MI 48226-2831
Telephone: (313) 224-6262

Wexford County
Wexford County Clerk
P.O. Box 490, Courthouse
Cadillac, MI 49601
Telephone: (616) 779-9450
 

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