DIVORCE still be living in the same house up property or who should get
with your spouse, but you cannot custody of the children.
IN ORDER TO FILE FOR be living as husband and wife.
DIVORCE IN MICHIGAN WAITING PERIOD
NO FAULT
You or your spouse (husband or If no children were born during
wife) must have lived in Michigan Michigan has no fault divorce. your marriage and no child is
for at least the last six (6) months. This means that you do not have to expected, you still have to wait at
prove adultery or cruelty or any least 60 days after you file for
You must file for divorce in the other “grounds’ for divorce. You divorce before your divorce can be
Michigan county where you or only have to show that your final. “This is a “cooling off”
your spouse has lived for the last marriage has broken down and you period just in case you change your
10 days. Most people file where cannot get back together. mind.
they live but you do not have to –
you can file where your spouse No fault also means that even if If you have children from the
lives. you are the one who made your marriage or one is expected, you
marriage break up, you can still file have to wait at least six (6) months
You do not need to know where for divorce. No fault divorce also after you file for divorce before
your spouse lives to get a divorce. means that if you want to get your divorce can be final.
A divorce notice can be put in a divorced, your spouse can fight
newspaper after you have filed. over other things involved in the If you and your spouse are fighting
divorce like child custody and over anything in the divorce, it can
SEPARATION support and property. But if you take a lot longer than the waiting
want the divorce you can get it period to get divorced.
You do not have to have a legal even if your spouse does not want
separation in order to file for it and even if you made the JUDGMENT
divorce. marriage break up.
When the divorce comes to court,
You do not have to be separated for But remember, the judge can look the judge will also decide on child
any certain period of time before at fault in deciding how to divide custody and visitation; on child
you start your divorce. You can support and alimony; and on how
property should be divided. The LEGAL SERVICES OF
judge can also give the wife back EASTERN MICHIGAN DIVORCE
her former name if she wants it.
148 E. Main, Ste. 207
DOT IT YOURSELF DIVORCE Midland, MI 48640
KITS (989) 832-7987 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
1-800-322-9142
If you are low income you may be
eligible to use a kit to do your 320 S. Washington, 3rd Floor
divorce. Legal Services of Eastern Saginaw, MI 48607
Michigan has a kit that gives you (989) 755-4465
the forms and instructions to file 1-800-322-4512
your own divorce. There are also
clinics in some counties to help you 436 S. Saginaw
get started with the kit. If you are Flint, MI 48502
interested in this option, you should (810) 234-2621
call your local legal service office 1-800-339-9513
for more information.
NOTE:
THIS PAMPHLET IS GENERAL
INFORMATION ONLY. IT IS LEGAL SERVICES
NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR OF
LEGAL ADVICE. CONSULT A EASTERN MICHIGAN
LAWYER.
THIS PAMPHLET HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY: